Washington: US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he has ordered the country’s Department of War (formerly known as the Department of Defense) to begin testing nuclear weapons. Trump’s decision comes after recent nuclear tests by Russia and other countries.
“Weapons Completely Updated During First Term”
Posting on Truth Social, Trump stated that all of America’s nuclear weapons were completely updated and upgraded during his first presidential term. He wrote, “The United States possesses more nuclear weapons than any other country. This achievement was achieved during my first term.” Although Trump stated that he was loath to test these weapons due to their enormous destructive power, he claimed that the current global situation left him no choice.
“Russia is second, China is third”
Donald Trump further stated that Russia is the second-largest country in terms of nuclear power, while China is far behind. He wrote, “Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but it will catch up in the next five years.” According to Trump, while other countries are testing their nuclear programs, the United States should also begin testing its weapons on an equal footing. For this reason, he has directed the Department of War to begin the process immediately.
Major change possible after 30 years
President Trump’s statement could raise global concerns, as the United States has not conducted a nuclear test since 1992. The United States is party to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which prohibits all nuclear explosive tests, although the United States has never formally ratified this treaty. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law in 2023 that would allow Russia to withdraw its approval from the CTBT, allowing it to remain on par with the United States.