Move marks a major policy shift ahead of Trump’s summit with China’s Xi Jinping.
Historic Decision Ends Three-Decade Pause
In a major shift in U.S. nuclear policy, President Donald Trump has ordered the resumption of nuclear weapons testing for the first time since 1992. The decision, announced on Wednesday, marks the end of a 30-year moratorium on live nuclear detonations and is aimed at keeping pace with Russia and China’s expanding nuclear programs.
Trump made the announcement just ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, signaling Washington’s renewed focus on nuclear deterrence amid rising global tensions.
Trump: “We Must Test on an Equal Basis”
In a statement shared on social media, Trump said:
“Because of other countries’ testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our nuclear weapons on an equal basis.”
He asserted that the United States holds the world’s largest nuclear arsenal, followed by Russia, while China remains in a distant third. The president acknowledged the immense destructive power of nuclear weapons but insisted that modernization and readiness were essential to maintain strategic balance.
Trump also cautioned that China’s nuclear program could rival that of the U.S. within five years if left unchecked.
Historical Context: Last U.S. Nuclear Test
The last American nuclear test took place on September 23, 1992, at an underground facility in Nevada, under Project Divider. That detonation marked the 1,054th nuclear test in U.S. history and prompted then-President George H.W. Bush to impose a moratorium following the end of the Cold War.
The Nevada Test Site, located about 65 miles north of Las Vegas, remains operational and maintained by the U.S. Department of Energy. According to the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History, it could be reactivated if testing is deemed necessary for national security purposes.
Announcement During Asia Visit
Trump’s declaration came while he was aboard Marine One, en route to Gimhae International Airport in South Korea, where he will meet President Xi Jinping for their first face-to-face summit since 2019.
Officials described the timing as a strategic message of strength underlining America’s readiness to assert its nuclear superiority amid ongoing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.
Although Trump did not specify technical details or test dates, he confirmed that “the process will begin immediately.”
Global Reactions and Strategic Implications
Analysts warn that the resumption of nuclear testing could escalate global tensions and potentially trigger a new arms race involving Russia, China, and other nuclear powers.
Experts say that while the U.S. maintains a superior arsenal, renewed testing may provoke reciprocal responses and undermine decades of disarmament efforts. Diplomatic observers are closely watching how Moscow, Beijing, and U.N. member states respond in the coming days, with potential implications for non-proliferation treaties and global strategic stability.
