Trump directs Pentagon to match Russia and China in nuclear weapons testing | Donald Trump
Donald Trump has called on the Pentagon to immediately begin competing with other nuclear powers in their nuclear weapons testing, specifically citing Russia and China.
In a message published Wednesday in Truth Social, Trump said that “because of other countries’ testing programs, I have directed the War Department to begin testing our nuclear weapons on an equal basis. This process will begin immediately.”
The message came less than an hour before Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday morning in an effort to reach a trade war truce. This is the first meeting between the two since 2019.
The United States last conducted a full nuclear test in 1992, and it is unclear whether China and Russia have conducted such tests since the same time. It was unclear from Trump’s reference to “on an equal basis” exactly what weapons tests might take place, or whether he was referring to displays of power similar to those recently conducted by Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday that Russia has successfully tested its “unique” nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, which can also carry a nuclear warhead. The Kremlin described it as part of efforts to “ensure the country’s national security.” Trump later called Putin’s announcement “inappropriate.” Sergei Ryabkov, a close aide to Putin, told Russian media that Moscow had informed the United States in advance of the test.
The timing of Russia’s Burevestnik tests is notable, amid an intensification of the Kremlin’s nuclear posture and a breakdown in negotiations between the United States and Russia over the war in Ukraine.
On Wednesday, Putin said Russia had also conducted a test of a nuclear-powered Poseidon super torpedo that military analysts say is capable of devastating coastal regions by detonating a nuclear warhead and unleashing vast radioactive ocean waves that would flood and contaminate cities.
Trump also falsely noted in his Truth Social article that the United States possesses more nuclear weapons than any other country. Russia currently has the largest number of confirmed nuclear weapons, with more than 5,500 nuclear warheads, while the United States has 5,044 nuclear weapons, according to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.
Since 1998, no country other than North Korea has conducted a full explosive nuclear test; but nuclear-armed countries like the United States have since conducted simulated explosions using high-powered computers, as well as testing nuclear-capable missiles, nuclear warhead mechanisms, and “subcritical” testing of nuclear materials to ensure the viability of their arsenals.
The last full nuclear test conducted by the United States, codenamed “Divider”, took place on September 23, 1992 at what is now known as the Nevada National Security Site. The same year, President George HW Bush announced a moratorium on underground nuclear testing. The United States, however, still has the option of resuming testing at the Nevada National Security Site.
In response to Trump’s post, Nevada Congresswoman Dina Titus posted on X: “Absolutely not. I will introduce legislation to stop this.”
Despite repeated declarations by Moscow and Washington of their desire to end the arms race, little progress has been made. The Kremlin recently criticized Trump’s push to develop a missile shield – known as the Golden Dome – which it said would make the United States impervious to attack.
During his first term, Trump reportedly sought to “increase tenfold” the U.S. nuclear arsenal, according to NBC News at the time.
In December 2016, he tweeted: “The United States must significantly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until the world comes to its senses about nuclear weapons.” »
