Trump orders immediate U.S. nuclear testing resume after 33-year ban—cites Russia, China threats
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President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the United States would immediately resume nuclear weapons testing for the first time in more than three decades, citing increased capabilities of Russia and China over the next five years as justification for ending a 33-year moratorium that began in 1992.
The announcement came minutes before Trump’s scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to a transcript of an ABC News broadcast. Trump made the declaration via his Truth Social platform, marking a significant departure from decades of U.S. nuclear policy and international nonproliferation norms.
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The United States last conducted a nuclear weapons test in 1992, according to the broadcast transcript. The decision to resume testing represents a major shift in American defense strategy and could trigger renewed nuclear arms competition among major powers.
Following his meeting with Xi, Trump held a press conference aboard Air Force One where he described the discussions as “a 12 out of 10 meeting” with “a lot of decisions being made,” according to the transcript.
The nuclear testing announcement dominated discussions among Australian officials monitoring the situation, with Andrew Hastie, Shadow Minister for Home Affairs in Australia’s opposition Liberal Party, expressing concern about the development during an interview on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing program.
“Donald Trump has said that he wants nuclear weapons tests. Is that something that concerns you?” an interviewer asked Hastie, according to the transcript. While Hastie’s full response was not included in the available transcript, the question underscored international attention to Trump’s announcement.
The decision comes as the United States faces what the administration characterizes as growing nuclear capabilities from both Russia and China. Trump’s announcement cited “the increased capability of Russia and China expected over the next five years” as the primary rationale for resuming testing, according to the broadcast transcript.
Nuclear weapons testing has been a contentious issue in international relations for decades. The United States, Russia, and other nuclear powers observed a de facto moratorium on nuclear testing for more than 30 years, though the U.S. never ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
The announcement coincided with Trump’s high-stakes diplomatic meeting with Xi, creating what observers described as a complex backdrop for the bilateral discussions. Despite the timing, Trump later characterized the meeting as highly successful, announcing several agreements reached with the Chinese leader.
The resumption of nuclear testing could have significant implications for global nonproliferation efforts and may prompt other nuclear powers to reconsider their own testing policies. Arms control experts have long warned that a return to nuclear testing by any major power could undermine decades of progress toward nuclear disarmament.
The announcement also raises questions about where such tests would be conducted. Historically, the United States conducted nuclear weapons tests at the Nevada Test Site and at various Pacific locations. The infrastructure and protocols for conducting such tests have not been actively maintained since the early 1990s.
International reaction to the announcement is expected to be swift and significant. The decision may strain relations with key allies who support the nuclear nonproliferation regime and could complicate diplomatic efforts in other areas.
The timing of the announcement—immediately before a crucial meeting with China’s leader—suggests the Trump administration may view the decision as a demonstration of resolve or as leverage in broader strategic competition with Beijing and Moscow.
Environmental and health concerns about nuclear testing are also likely to resurface. Previous nuclear tests in the United States and elsewhere left lasting environmental damage and health impacts on surrounding communities, issues that have not been fully addressed decades later.
The announcement comes amid broader tensions in U.S.-China relations, though Trump’s subsequent characterization of his meeting with Xi as highly successful suggests the nuclear testing decision did not derail diplomatic engagement between the world’s two largest economies.
Trump’s use of Truth Social to make the announcement reflects his preference for direct communication through his own social media platform rather than traditional government channels or press briefings.
The last U.S. nuclear test in 1992 occurred under President George H.W. Bush’s administration. Since then, the United States has relied on computer modeling and other non-explosive methods to maintain and verify its nuclear arsenal.
Defense analysts will likely scrutinize the stated justification regarding Russian and Chinese capabilities. Both nations have modernized their nuclear arsenals in recent years, though they have also maintained the testing moratorium despite not being parties to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
The decision to resume testing may also impact domestic politics, potentially drawing criticism from arms control advocates and support from defense hawks who argue that testing is necessary to ensure the reliability of America’s nuclear deterrent.
Congressional reaction will be closely watched, as lawmakers from both parties have varying views on nuclear policy and arms control. Some members of Congress have previously called for maintaining the testing moratorium, while others have argued for renewed testing capabilities.
The announcement adds another dimension to what is already a complex period in international security relations, with ongoing conflicts, territorial disputes, and great power competition creating multiple flashpoints around the globe.
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