President Donald Trump has called on US military leaders to resume testing US nuclear weapons in order to keep pace with other countries such as Russia and China.
Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis, he wrote on social media just before meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.
The US has more nuclear weapons than any other country, Trump stated, with Russia second and China a distant third. It has not conducted nuclear weapons testing since 1992.
This announcement comes just days after Trump denounced Russia for testing a nuclear-powered missile, which reportedly has an unlimited range.
Later, on Air Force One after the two leaders' meeting, Trump reiterated his stance, saying the nuclear test sites would be decided later. He insisted that with others doing testing, I think it's appropriate that we do also.\
No country except North Korea has conducted a nuclear test explosion in this century, according to the Arms Control Association (ACA).
Trump's announcement did not include details of how the tests would occur but stated the process will begin immediately.
He acknowledged the tremendous destructive power of nuclear weapons, emphasizing that he had no choice but to update and renovate the US arsenal during his presidency.
This marks an apparent reversal of a long-standing US policy where the last nuclear weapons test occurred in 1992 before former President George HW Bush imposed a moratorium as the Cold War ended.
Russia recently announced it had successfully tested two new weapons capable of carrying nuclear warheads, adding to the tense dynamics of international relations regarding nuclear capabilities.
Critics of the plan, including nuclear policy experts and some opposition Democrats, warn that resuming testing could trigger public backlash and escalate tensions, potentially undermining the global nonproliferation efforts.
Who has the most nuclear weapons?
Trump asserted that the US leads in nuclear capacity, with Russia and China following behind. Exact warhead counts are classified, but estimates suggest Russia holds about 5,459 warheads and the US around 5,177.
China is thought to have approximately 600 nuclear warheads, with projections indicating a doubling of its arsenal in the next few years.
When and where was the last US test?
The last nuclear bomb test conducted by the US was on September 23, 1992, at an underground facility in Nevada. Experts suggest it would take at least 36 months for the US to restart such tests if authorized.
The geopolitical implications of Trump's announcement could lead to renewed calls for arms control and sparks of opposition from both the public and international community against nuclear escalation.
