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Trump orders immediate resumption of U.S. nuclear weapons testing
By isabelle // 2025-10-30
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  • Trump ends the 33-year U.S. moratorium on nuclear weapons testing.
  • He cites strategic competition with Russia and China as the reason.
  • The decision reverses long-standing policy and risks a global arms race.
  • The U.S. last conducted an explosive nuclear test in 1992.
  • Russia and China have recently advanced their own nuclear capabilities.
In a move that signals a dramatic shift in global security policy, President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to immediately resume testing nuclear weapons, ending a 33-year moratorium. The announcement came just minutes before a high-stakes meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea, citing strategic competition with Russia and China as the primary reason. This decision marks a pivotal moment in modern geopolitics, potentially unraveling decades of nuclear testing norms and escalating tensions between the world's most powerful nations. President Trump framed the decision as a necessary response to the actions of other nuclear powers. He announced the policy shift on his Truth Social platform, stating the United States must test its weapons "on an equal basis" with rivals. "Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis," Trump wrote. "That process will begin immediately." The president emphasized the sheer size of the American arsenal while expressing personal reluctance. "The United States has more Nuclear Weapons than any other country," his post continued. "Because of the tremendous destructive power, I HATED to do it, but had no choice!" He further noted that while "Russia is second, and China is a distant third," he projected that China "will be even within 5 years."

The return to testing after 33 years

The United States last conducted an explosive nuclear test in 1992, operating under a congressionally mandated moratorium ever since. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump defended his decision by pointing to other nations' activities. "It had to do with others — they seemed to all be nuclear testing," he said. "We have more nuclear weapons than anybody. We don’t do testing. We halted it many years ago, but with others doing testing, I think it’s appropriate that we do also." When pressed for details on the timing and location of the tests, Trump remained vague. "It’ll be announced. You know, we have test sites. It’ll be announced," he told reporters. This move reverses a long-standing bipartisan policy and could trigger a new global arms race.

The global nuclear landscape

The decision follows a series of provocative weapons tests by other powers. Russia recently announced the successful test of a nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, which it claims has a virtually unlimited range. The country's top general, Valery Gerasimov, reported to President Vladimir Putin that the missile traveled 8,700 miles and remained airborne for about 15 hours. Meanwhile, China has been rapidly expanding its own nuclear capabilities. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Beijing has more than doubled the size of its arsenal from an estimated 300 weapons in 2020 to 600 in 2025. The think tank projects China will possess more than 1,000 nuclear weapons by 2030. The most recent estimates from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute place the U.S. stockpile at 5,177 warheads, with Russia at 5,459. Despite the escalatory nature of the decision, Trump downplayed the risks. Asked if the world was entering a more dangerous phase, he replied, "I don’t think so. I think we have it pretty well locked up." He also expressed a desire for denuclearization, stating, "I’d like to see a denuclearization because we have so many." He added that the U.S. is "actually talking to Russia about that and China would be added to that if we do something." This decision places the United States at a critical crossroads. While a credible deterrent against genuine threats like a rapidly arming China is undeniably necessary, a return to nuclear testing risks draining national resources and accelerating a dangerous global arms buildup. The delicate balance between national security and global stability has never been more precarious. Will this announcement mark a new, more volatile chapter in nuclear history? Sources for this article include: RT.com FoxNews.com Reuters.com
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