US President Donald Trump on Sunday reaffirmed his decision to restart nuclear testing in the United States after a three-decade gap, saying he does not want Washington to be the only nation abstaining while rivals like Russia, China, and North Korea continue testing their arsenals.
In an interview with CBS’ 60 Minutes, Trump said the move came after assessing that the US “cannot be the only country that doesn’t test its weapons,” despite already possessing enough nuclear arms “to blow up the world 150 times.”
Hours before his much-anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump directed the Department of Defense via a post on Truth Social to begin nuclear testing “immediately.”
“Enough weapons to blow up the world”
“We have more nuclear weapons than any other country,” Trump told CBS. “And I think we should do something about denuclearization. I discussed that with both President Putin and President Xi. But if others are testing — Russia, China, North Korea — we can’t be the only country that doesn’t.”
He added that Russia recently tested its “unlimited-range” missile, Burevestnik, while North Korea conducts tests regularly. “Other countries are testing. We’re the only country that doesn’t test, and I don’t want to be that country,” Trump said.
Trump also claimed that unlike Russia and China, the US is “an open society” that discusses such matters publicly. “They don’t have reporters writing about it — we do,” he remarked.
Mixed reactions and strategic implications
Trump’s announcement — which would mark the first US nuclear test since 1992’s Operation Julin — has stirred debate in Washington. Senior military officials have urged caution, with Vice Admiral Richard Correll, nominee to head STRATCOM, clarifying that there is no confirmed evidence that Russia or China are conducting explosive nuclear tests.
“I believe the quote was, ‘start testing our nuclear weapons on an equal basis.’ Neither China nor Russia has conducted a nuclear explosive test, so I’m not reading anything into it,” Correll told lawmakers.
Meanwhile, US Energy Secretary clarified last week that Trump’s testing plans “do not involve any explosive detonations.”
Background: The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)
The United States last conducted a nuclear test in September 1992 as part of Operation Julin, before entering negotiations for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) — an international agreement prohibiting all nuclear explosions.
The treaty has been signed by 187 countries but ratified by 178. The US remains a signatory but has not ratified the treaty, leaving it technically unenforced under American law.
If carried out, Trump’s directive could mark a dramatic shift in US nuclear policy, potentially heightening tensions with global powers and reigniting debates over the future of nuclear non-proliferation.