U.S. Nuclear weapons tests ‘Will Begin instantly,’ Trump Says
WASHINGTON - Former President Donald Trump announced Wednesday night that he has directed the Department of War to resume U.S. nuclear weapons testing, ending a 33-year moratorium. The declaration,made via a post on Truth social,stated,”because of other countries testing programs,I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately.”
The U.S.last conducted a nuclear test on September 23, 1992, coinciding with a pause in the production of materials for new nuclear warheads and the implementation of the “Science-Based Stockpile Stewardship” program – a system designed to maintain the safety and reliability of the existing nuclear arsenal without explosive testing. Despite China’s 1994 detonation of a hydrogen bomb, the U.S. maintained its testing pause, a key achievement in post-Cold War arms control efforts.
Trump’s post also included the claim that the U.S. now possesses more nuclear weapons than Russia, traditionally considered to have the world’s largest nuclear arsenal. He asserted this build-up, including a “complete update and renovation of existing weapons,” occurred during his first term.
While Trump continued modernization efforts initiated by the Obama management in 2014, and previously stated his desire to “massively increase” the U.S. nuclear stockpile, the claim of surpassing Russia in total warheads remains unverified. Official figures currently indicate Russia maintains a larger, though comparable, arsenal.
The resumption of nuclear testing would represent a notable shift in U.S. policy and could perhaps trigger a new arms race, prompting reactions from international allies and adversaries alike. The Department of War has not yet released details regarding the scope or timeline of the planned tests.
