Trump instructs the Department of Defense to immediately resume testing of American nuclear weapons. The decision comes on the eve of a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, in Gyeongju, South Korea, this Thursday (30). The president justified the measure as a response to testing programs of other nuclear countries, aiming for strategic parity.
The announcement was made through a social media post, highlighting that the United States has the world’s largest nuclear arsenal. Trump mentioned that Russia ranks second and China third, with a forecast of equalization in five years. The testing process will begin immediately, according to the directive.
The order breaks with the voluntary moratorium adopted by the US since 1992, the last year of explosive nuclear tests. Experts indicate that tests serve to validate the performance of new weapons and the reliability of existing stocks.
Recent moves by nuclear rivals
Russia successfully tested the super Poseidon torpedo on Tuesday (28), capable of generating radioactive waves in coastal regions. Military analysts highlight that the device, with a range of 10,000 kilometers and speed of 185 km/h, represents an advance in nuclear underwater capabilities.
Vladimir Putin confirmed the launch from a submarine, with activation of the nuclear propulsion unit for the first time. The test is part of a series of Russian demonstrations, including the Burevestnik cruise missile on October 21 and nuclear launch drills on October 22.
These actions occur amid heightened tensions, with Trump hardening rhetoric against Moscow. Prior notification from Moscow to the US about the Burevestnik test was highlighted by Russian authorities.
History of American nuclear tests
The United States began the nuclear era in July 1945, with the explosion of a 20-kiloton atomic bomb in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Two months later, bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ending World War II.
Between 1945 and 1992, the country conducted over a thousand tests, mostly at Bikini Atoll and the Nevada site. The 1992 moratorium, established by George H.W. Bush, prioritized computational simulations for arsenal maintenance.
- Underground tests predominated after 1963, with a ban on atmospheric explosions.
- The last test, named Divider, occurred on September 23, 1992, at the current Nevada National Security Site.
- Science-based stewardship programs sustain reliability without explosions since then.
Preparations at Nevada site
The Nevada National Security Site maintains infrastructure ready for resumption of tests in a few weeks. Department of Energy authorities confirm capacity for safe underground explosions.
The site, with an area of 3,500 km², houses laboratories for ongoing subcritical experiments. Recent modernization investments, estimated in billions, facilitate the transition to full tests.
Experts predict that the first tests will validate existing warheads, focusing on yield and safety data. The annual cost of the American nuclear arsenal is projected at about 1 trillion dollars by 2034.
Comparison of global arsenals
Russia holds 5,459 nuclear warheads in 2025, followed by the US with 5,177. China has about 600, with expansion projected for equalization in half a decade.
- Countries like North Korea have conducted tests since 1998, the only case of confirmed explosions in that period.
- Renewal of historic sites in China and Russia contrasts with the American moratorium.
- Agreements such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty regulate but do not prohibit tests among recognized powers.
Parity in testing aims to restore strategic balance, according to analysts. The Pentagon did not detail the initial schedule but indicates a focus on technical validation.
Implications for arms control
The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, signed in 1996, has 187 signatories but not ratified by the US. The Senate rejected the measure in 1999 due to security concerns.
Resumption may influence trilateral negotiations with Russia and China. American authorities emphasize that tests will provide real data, beyond computational models.
The decision occurs in the context of global arsenal modernization, with high budgets in all powers. Experts monitor diplomatic reactions post-Trump-Xi meeting.
The American arsenal includes intercontinental ballistic missiles such as the Minuteman III. Recent delivery tests, without warheads, occurred in Utah, demonstrating readiness.
