**Trump Suggests Resuming U.S. Nuclear Weapons Testing to Match Russia and China**
*BUSAN, South Korea (AP)* — President Donald Trump appeared to indicate that the United States may resume nuclear weapons testing for the first time in three decades, stating the move would place the U.S. on an “equal basis” with Russia and China.
The Kremlin responded by reaffirming a global ban on nuclear testing that remains in place. However, it warned that if any country restarts nuclear tests, Russia would follow suit.
There is currently no clear indication that the U.S. plans to detonate warheads, but Trump provided few details in what could signal a significant shift in U.S. nuclear policy.
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### Announcement Ahead of Meeting with Xi Jinping
Trump made the announcement via social media minutes before meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday in South Korea. Later, aboard Air Force One en route back to Washington, he offered little clarity on the subject.
The U.S. military regularly tests missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads, but the last detonation of a nuclear weapon by the U.S. took place in 1992.
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### Context of the Global Test Ban
The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), which the U.S. signed but never ratified, has effectively been observed by all nuclear-armed nations except North Korea.
Despite this, Trump suggested changes were necessary because other countries were allegedly conducting nuclear tests, though it was unclear what specific actions he was referring to. His comments evoked memories of Cold War-era tensions.
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### Trump’s Social Media Statement
In a Truth Social post, 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. That process will begin immediately.”
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### Kremlin’s Response
Asked about Trump’s remarks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated Russian President Vladimir Putin’s earlier warning that Moscow would resume nuclear testing if other countries break the moratorium.
“If someone abandons the moratorium, Russia will act accordingly,” Peskov said during a call with reporters.
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### Lack of U.S. Government Clarification
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for additional details regarding Trump’s announcement.
During the Busan summit, Trump declined to answer reporters’ questions about his social media post while sitting across from Xi Jinping, with their meeting predominantly addressing trade issues.
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### Confusion Between Missile and Warhead Testing
Later, Trump appeared to conflate testing of nuclear-capable delivery missiles with testing of nuclear warheads themselves.
Other countries, he said, “seem to all be nuclear testing,” but the U.S. “has more nuclear weapons than anybody. We don’t do testing.”
“I see them testing and I say, well, if they’re going to test, I guess we have to test,” Trump told reporters.
When pressed about the location of potential tests, Trump stated, “It’ll be announced. We have test sites.”
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### Pentagon and Russian Weapons Tests
Pentagon officials did not immediately comment on the announcement.
This week, Putin announced tests of new nuclear-powered and nuclear-capable weapons: an underwater drone and a nuclear-powered cruise missile.
Putin did not, however, announce any tests of nuclear warheads; Russia’s last nuclear detonation occurred in 1990.
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### Kremlin Clarifies Recent Russian Tests
Peskov emphasized that tests of the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile and the Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drone are unrelated to the global ban on nuclear warhead testing.
“Regarding the tests of the Burevestnik and the Poseidon, we hope that President Trump was correctly informed about it,” Peskov said. “There is no way it can be interpreted as nuclear testing.”
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### Trump’s Remarks on Nuclear Stockpiles
Trump did not explicitly mention Russia’s recent weapons tests but referenced nuclear stockpiles controlled by both Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin.
He said, “Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years.”
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### Russia’s Withdrawal from Test Ban
In 2023, Putin signed a bill revoking Russia’s ratification of the global nuclear test ban to “put Russia on par with the U.S.”
The nuclear test ban was signed by President Bill Clinton but never ratified by the U.S. Senate.
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### U.S. Arms Control Stance and Chinese Reaction
Earlier this year, Trump expressed a desire to engage Russia and China in renewed nuclear arms control talks.
Meanwhile, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson urged the U.S. to refrain from conducting nuclear tests.
“China hopes the U.S. will earnestly fulfill its obligations under the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and honor its commitment to suspend nuclear testing,” Guo Jiakun said during a briefing in Beijing.
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### Trump Advocates for Denuclearization Despite Announcement
Despite the announcement suggesting an escalation, Trump told reporters he favors “denuclearization” and “de-escalation.”
“We are actually talking to Russia about that,” Trump said, though he did not provide further details.
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### Criticism from Arms Control Advocates
Arms control advocates voiced concern over Trump’s announcement.
Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Washington-based Arms Control Association, criticized the president on social media, calling him “misinformed and out of touch.”
Kimball noted the U.S. has no practical reason to resume explosive nuclear testing and that restarting tests at the former Nevada test site could take at least 36 months.
“By foolishly announcing his intention (to) resume nuclear testing, Trump will trigger strong public opposition in Nevada, from all U.S. allies, and it could trigger a chain reaction of nuclear testing by U.S. adversaries, and blow apart the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty,” Kimball said on X (formerly Twitter).
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### Opposition from Japanese Survivors of Atomic Bombings
Japanese survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki vehemently condemned Trump’s announcement.
Jiro Hamasumi, secretary general of Nihon Hidankyo, a survivors’ organization that won the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize, said:
“The act vehemently opposes all countries that are endeavoring to achieve a nuclear-free and peaceful world and absolutely cannot be tolerated.”
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© Copyright Associated Press
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