While aiming to demonstrate power, US President’s move to resume nuclear weapons testing risks increasing America’s isolation and igniting a new cold war
US President Donald Trump’s recent directive for the military to immediately restart nuclear testing, effectively ending a 33-year pause established by President George H.W. Bush in 1992, has caused global alarm.
This announcement came just before Trump’s long-awaited encounter with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea, held during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit. This marked the inaugural meeting between the two leaders since Trump’s January return to the White House.
Trump framed the resumption of nuclear testing as a reaction to “other countries testing programmes”, stressing that the United States must retain an equal footing with China and Russia, both of which may rival America’s nuclear strength within five years. Although US Energy Secretary Chris Wright later specified there will be no nuclear detonations, the exact nature of these tests has yet to be revealed.
As of September 2023, the US holds one of the largest nuclear arsenals globally, with 3,748 warheads according to the US State Department. The timing and tone of Trump’s statement suggest it’s a deliberate geopolitical signal, likely responding to Russia’s recent nuclear-capable weapon tests, including trials of the Poseidon nuclear-powered torpedo and Burevestnik cruise missile, although Moscow denies nuclear explosions took place.
Furthermore, Trump’s declaration occurred fewer than 100 days before the expiration of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), the last substantial arms control agreement between the US and Russia, set to end on February 4.
Meanwhile, Beijing—believed to have doubled its inventory of nuclear warheads to approximately 600 in the past five years and recently showcased cutting-edge nuclear-capable weapons during the parade in September commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II—is upgrading its strategic forces. The Pentagon warns China might surpass 1,000 active warheads by 2030.
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