President Trump made the surprise announcement on Truth Social while aboard a Marine One helicopter flying to meet with President Xi Jinping for a trade negotiation session in Busan, South Korea. He said he was directing the Pentagon to test U.S. nuclear weapons on an “equivalent basis” to other nuclear-weapon states.
“As other countries have nuclear testing programs, I have directed the Department of the Army to begin testing our own nuclear weapons on an equal footing. That process will begin immediately,” Trump wrote.
“Russia is in second place and China is in third place, which is a long way off, but within five years they will be even.”
A senior Russian lawmaker said Trump’s decision heralds a new era of unpredictability and open conflict, state news agency RIA reported.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the United States to honor its commitment to suspend nuclear testing and safeguard global strategic balance and stability.
It was not immediately clear whether Trump was referring to a nuclear explosion test conducted by the National Nuclear Security Administration or a flight test of a nuclear-capable missile.
No nuclear-weapon state other than North Korea has conducted an explosive test in over 25 years.
RHM/