SEOUL: US President Donald Trump has announced the immediate resumption of nuclear weapons testing, marking a sharp escalation in global nuclear tensions just hours before his scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.
In a post on his social platform Truth Social, Trump said he had directed the Department of Defence to restart testing “on an equal basis” with other nuclear powers. “Because of other countries’ testing programmes, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our nuclear weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately,” he wrote.
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The move comes amid growing competition between the world’s top nuclear states. Trump claimed, “Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within five years.” His remarks follow Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent announcement that Moscow had successfully tested a Poseidon nuclear-powered super torpedo capable of devastating coastal regions.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 30, 2025
Putin’s display of power — including tests of the Burevestnik cruise missile and nuclear launch drills earlier this month — appears to have prompted Trump’s decision to showcase America’s nuclear readiness. The US has not conducted a nuclear test since 1992, relying instead on simulations and maintenance checks for its arsenal.
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Analysts warn that a return to testing could heighten global tensions, undermining long-standing international agreements and signaling a new phase in the nuclear arms race between the US, Russia, and China.