US President Donald Trump announced on his social media platform Truth Social earlier this week that the US will resume its nuclear weapons testing program, sparking widespread alarm and concern about global security. According to Trump, the decision was made due to other countries' nuclear testing programs, prompting him to instruct the Department of War to start testing the country's nuclear arsenal "on an equal basis."
This move reverses a 33-year-old policy, where the US ended its nuclear test program in 1992. The last nuclear test conducted by the US took place on September 23rd, 1992. Since then, the country has relied on science-based stockpile stewardship programs instead of nuclear testing.
Trump's announcement was also accompanied by a claim that he had managed to increase the number of nuclear weapons in the US arsenal during his first term in office, surpassing that of Russia. According to him, this was achieved through "a complete update and renovation of existing weapons" and a massive build-up of new ones. However, it remains unclear whether Trump's assertion about surpassing Russia is accurate.
The resumption of nuclear testing has raised concerns among international diplomats and security experts who have long advocated for the US and other countries to prioritize arms control agreements. The move also casts doubt on the Trump administration's commitment to reducing global nuclear threats and follows his broader stance on military expansion and assertive foreign policy.
This move reverses a 33-year-old policy, where the US ended its nuclear test program in 1992. The last nuclear test conducted by the US took place on September 23rd, 1992. Since then, the country has relied on science-based stockpile stewardship programs instead of nuclear testing.
Trump's announcement was also accompanied by a claim that he had managed to increase the number of nuclear weapons in the US arsenal during his first term in office, surpassing that of Russia. According to him, this was achieved through "a complete update and renovation of existing weapons" and a massive build-up of new ones. However, it remains unclear whether Trump's assertion about surpassing Russia is accurate.
The resumption of nuclear testing has raised concerns among international diplomats and security experts who have long advocated for the US and other countries to prioritize arms control agreements. The move also casts doubt on the Trump administration's commitment to reducing global nuclear threats and follows his broader stance on military expansion and assertive foreign policy.