“Due to the testing programs of other countries, I have instructed the Department of Defense to test our nuclear weapons,” Trump wrote Thursday on his social media platform Truth Social, just before a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. “Russia is in second place, and China is a distant third, but will be on par within five years.”
Trump stated that the locations for the tests have yet to be determined. He expressed a desire for “nuclearization” to be scaled back, noting that discussions are ongoing with Russia regarding this matter.
It remains unclear whether Trump’s announcement pertains to an explosive test involving a nuclear warhead. Such tests have not been conducted by the U.S., Russia, or China since the 1990s. He may be referring to a test of a missile or another weapon system capable of launching a nuclear weapon.
This announcement comes at a notable time, as Russian President Vladimir Putin reported on Wednesday that Russia successfully tested a Poseidon super-torpedo powered by nuclear energy. According to military analysts, this torpedo could devastate coastal areas by generating massive radioactive waves in the ocean.
The United States ceased nuclear testing in 1992, a decision influenced by the end of the Cold War and Russia’s own cessation of tests. The U.S. is one of nine nuclear powers globally, alongside Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, India, Israel, and North Korea.
Trump’s statement was made shortly before a significant summit with Xi in the South Korean city of Busan. It had been announced that they would discuss various topics, including trade and the war in Ukraine. Prior to the meeting, Trump had expressed optimism about reaching a trade agreement between China and the U.S.
