WEB DESK: President Donald Trump has declared that the United States will resume nuclear weapons testing for the first time since 1992, stressing the need to stay competitive with other global powers like Russia and China.
The announcement came shortly before his scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.
Trump revealed in a social media post that he had directed the Department of War to initiate nuclear testing programs on par with those of rival nations. He highlighted that the U.S. currently possesses the world’s largest nuclear stockpile, followed by Russia, with China ranking significantly lower.
Although he acknowledged the immense destructive capabilities associated with nuclear weapons, Trump argued that modernizing and advancing the U.S. arsenal is vital to ensuring strategic equilibrium. He also cautioned that China’s nuclear developments could potentially match U.S. capabilities within the next five years.
The most recent American nuclear test took place on September 23, 1992, at an underground site in Nevada, code-named Project Divider. That test marked the 1,054th U.S. nuclear detonation, closing an era after President George H.W. Bush implemented a testing moratorium following the Cold War.
The Nevada Test Site, located approximately 65 miles north of Las Vegas, remains under government maintenance and could be reactivated for testing purposes if deemed necessary, based on information from the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History.
Key timing behind Trump’s announcement
The statement was released as Trump traveled to South Korea for his first in-person summit with Xi Jinping since 2019. Delivered aboard Marine One en route to Gimhae International Airport, it underscored a strong stance on U.S. nuclear readiness ahead of high-level discussions.
Though Trump did not elaborate on the specifics of how testing would be conducted, he affirmed that preparations would begin immediately, signaling a notable departure from longstanding U.S. policy.
This decision to resume nuclear testing could heighten tensions with other major powers and potentially redefine the global nuclear landscape. Analysts caution that while the U.S. retains its advantage in terms of arsenal strength, renewed testing may provoke an arms race involving Russia, China, and other nations equipped with nuclear capabilities.
