President Donald Trump recently called for the United States to resume nuclear weapons testing, citing the need to keep pace with other global powers such as Russia and China. His announcement came just before a high-profile meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, stirring significant international attention and concern.
In a social media post, Trump stated, "Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis." He emphasized that the US holds the largest nuclear arsenal in the world, followed by Russia in second place, with China trailing as a "distant third." Notably, the United States has not conducted any nuclear weapons tests since 1992, marking a significant shift if testing were to resume.
This declaration followed Trump’s earlier denunciation of Russia for reportedly testing a nuclear-powered missile. The Kremlin, however, disputed claims that their tests involved nuclear detonations, clarifying that the tests were not nuclear explosions. After his meeting with President Xi, Trump reiterated on Air Force One that the specifics of the nuclear test sites had yet to be determined but indicated that resuming testing was appropriate given other nations’ activities. “With others doing testing, I think it’s appropriate that we do also,” he said en route back to Washington.
According to the Arms Control Association (ACA), no country except North Korea has conducted a nuclear test explosion in the 21st century. Even North Korea, which conducted multiple tests in previous years, announced a moratorium on nuclear testing in 2018. Trump’s recent announcement did not clarify whether he was referring to testing nuclear explosions themselves or testing weapon systems capable of delivering nuclear warheads, leaving some ambiguity about the nature of the proposed tests.
In his social media post, Trump acknowledged the "tremendous destructive power" of nuclear weapons but stated that he had "no choice" but to update and renovate the US nuclear arsenal during his administration. He also warned that China’s nuclear program would "be even within 5 years," implying rapid growth and modernization that the US needed to match.
The announcement signals a potential reversal of longstanding US nuclear policy. The last nuclear test conducted by the United States was in 1992, under former Republican President George H.W. Bush, who imposed a moratorium on testing as the Cold War drew to a close. Since then, the US has maintained this moratorium as part of broader international efforts to curb nuclear proliferation.
In recent days, Russia announced successful tests of two new weapons systems capable of carrying nuclear warheads: a missile said to be capable of penetrating US defense systems and an underwater drone called Poseidon, which reportedly could strike the US west coast and cause radioactive ocean contamination. However, these tests did not involve detonating nuclear weapons. Russia has since denied conducting any nuclear tests, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov clarifying that the weapons tests were not nuclear detonations and expressing hope that President Trump’s information was accurate.
The Kremlin also criticized the US for not notifying Russia about its intention to resume nuclear testing. Peskov reminded that President Vladimir Putin had repeatedly stated Russia would respond accordingly if any country abandoned the nuclear testing moratorium. This exchange underscores the heightened tensions and risks of escalation between the world’s major nuclear powers.
China also responded to Trump’s announcement, urging the US to honor its commitments under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and to maintain its suspension of nuclear testing. China has been rapidly expanding its nuclear capabilities, with analysts noting that its arsenal has roughly doubled in the past five years. According to the US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), China could surpass 1,000 nuclear weapons by 2030, a significant increase that has fueled concerns in Washington about the shifting strategic balance.
While exact numbers of nuclear warheads are closely guarded secrets, estimates from organizations like the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) provide some insight. The US is believed to have approximately 5,177 to 5,225 warheads, while Russia holds around 5,459 to 5,580. China’s nuclear stockpile is estimated at about 600 warheads, making it the third-largest nuclear power. Other countries with nuclear capabilities include France, the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea, each with varying arsenal sizes.
Trump’s call to resume nuclear testing also comes against the backdrop of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), which is the last remaining nuclear