Copyright kyivpost
WASHINGTON, DC – US President Donald Trump issued a dramatic new directive on Wednesday, ordering the Department of Defense to “immediately” begin testing US nuclear weapons at a level “equal” to that of China and Russia. The order – announced via a post on Truth Social – breaks with a voluntary nuclear testing moratorium the United States has observed for more than three decades. The move immediately drew sharp criticism from arms control experts, who warned it could destabilize decades of nonproliferation progress. “Because of other countries’ testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis,” Trump wrote. “That process will begin immediately,” he emphasized. The provocative announcement comes just minutes before Trump’s scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea – their first in-person encounter since 2019 – aimed at easing mounting trade tensions. It also follows renewed nuclear signaling from Russia, including recent tests of a nuclear-capable cruise missile and a nuclear-powered underwater drone. Breakdown of decades-long restraint The US has not conducted a nuclear explosive test since “Divider” – its last detonation on September 23, 1992, at the Nevada National Security Site. Since then, Washington has upheld a voluntary moratorium, relying instead on a science-based stockpile stewardship program to ensure the reliability and safety of its nuclear arsenal. This self-imposed restraint has served as a cornerstone of global nonproliferation efforts. However, Trump’s directive threatens to unravel that legacy. Arms control advocates quickly condemned the decision. Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Washington-based Arms Control Association, criticized the move as both unnecessary and impractical. “Trump is misinformed and out of touch,” Kimball said. “The US has no technical, military, or political reason to resume nuclear explosive testing for the first time since 1992,” he wrote on social media. He further noted the significant logistical barriers involved: “It would take at least 36 months to resume contained underground nuclear tests at the former test site in Nevada.” Fears of a new nuclear arms race Experts warn that resuming testing could shatter global nonproliferation norms and invite a new era of nuclear brinkmanship. Nearly every nation on Earth is a signatory to the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which prohibits all nuclear explosive tests. Although the US has signed but not ratified the treaty, it has long abided by its provisions. “No country except North Korea has conducted a nuclear test explosion in this century,” Kimball noted. “By foolishly announcing his intention to resume nuclear testing, Trump risks triggering public backlash in Nevada, alienating US allies, and provoking a chain reaction of nuclear tests by adversaries,” he concluded. Jennifer Kavanagh, a senior fellow and director of military analysis at the Washington-based Defense Priorities think tank, described the decision as a dangerous move that largely benefits China, allowing Beijing to resume testing and accelerate the modernization of its nuclear arsenal. Speaking to Kyiv Post, she noted that the US has little to gain, as it no longer needs extensive testing, a dynamic that could help China narrow the gap with Washington and Moscow. She added that Russia is uneasy about China’s growing nuclear capabilities, suggesting the shift may not be welcomed in Moscow. Overall, Kavanagh warned, the development risks destabilizing the global balance and heightening the chances of a renewed arms race—and potential miscalculation leading to conflict. Analysts fear such a move could effectively dismantle the global testing taboo that has endured for over thirty years – potentially reigniting an unrestricted nuclear arms race among major powers. Contrasting statements and historical context In his Truth Social post, Trump also claimed that the US possesses more nuclear weapons than any other nation – a statement contradicted by data showing that Russia currently maintains the largest confirmed stockpile. The directive is consistent with Trump’s historically aggressive stance on nuclear policy. During his first term, reports indicated that he sought a nearly tenfold increase in the US nuclear arsenal. This latest order, however, represents his most direct challenge yet to the post–Cold War consensus against nuclear explosive testing. As of Wednesday evening, the White House had not provided further details on how or when the “immediate” implementation of the order would occur. The Department of Defense has likewise remained silent on whether preparations for new tests are underway.
