President Donald Trump has called on US military leaders to resume testing US nuclear weapons in order to keep pace with other countries such as Russia and China.
Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis, he wrote on social media just before meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.
The US has more nuclear weapons than any other country, Trump said, with Russia second and China a 'distant third'. It has not conducted nuclear weapons testing since 1992.
It comes just days after Trump denounced Russia for testing a nuclear-powered missile, which reportedly has an unlimited range.
Later, on Air Force One after the two leaders' meeting, Trump said the nuclear test sites would be determined later.
With others doing testing, I think it's appropriate that we do also, Trump said on his way back to Washington.
No country except North Korea has conducted a nuclear test explosion in this century, according to the Arms Control Association (ACA).
Trump's announcement did not include details of how the tests would occur, but wrote the process will begin immediately.
His post on Wednesday night acknowledged the tremendous destructive power of nuclear weapons but stated he had no choice but to update and renovate the US arsenal during his first term in office.
He also indicated that China’s nuclear program will be even more advanced within five years.
The announcement marks a notable reversal of a longstanding US policy. The last US nuclear weapons test was in 1992, preceding a moratorium imposed by former Republican President George HW Bush at the end of the Cold War.
Additionally, Russia announced that it successfully tested two new weapons capable of carrying nuclear warheads. These included a missile rumored to penetrate US defense systems and an underwater drone capable of impacting the American west coast.
Following the announcement, many experts expressed concerns that resuming tests might lead to an arms race. Daryl G Kimball from the ACA stated, Trump is misinformed and out of touch...The US has no technical, military, or political justification for resuming nuclear explosive testing for the first time since 1992.
Trump’s directive comes approximately 100 days before the expiration of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia, which is the last remaining nuclear arms treaty in force.
Historically, the US tested its first atomic bomb in July 1945 and remains the only nation to have used such weapons in wartime.
Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis, he wrote on social media just before meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.
The US has more nuclear weapons than any other country, Trump said, with Russia second and China a 'distant third'. It has not conducted nuclear weapons testing since 1992.
It comes just days after Trump denounced Russia for testing a nuclear-powered missile, which reportedly has an unlimited range.
Later, on Air Force One after the two leaders' meeting, Trump said the nuclear test sites would be determined later.
With others doing testing, I think it's appropriate that we do also, Trump said on his way back to Washington.
No country except North Korea has conducted a nuclear test explosion in this century, according to the Arms Control Association (ACA).
Trump's announcement did not include details of how the tests would occur, but wrote the process will begin immediately.
His post on Wednesday night acknowledged the tremendous destructive power of nuclear weapons but stated he had no choice but to update and renovate the US arsenal during his first term in office.
He also indicated that China’s nuclear program will be even more advanced within five years.
The announcement marks a notable reversal of a longstanding US policy. The last US nuclear weapons test was in 1992, preceding a moratorium imposed by former Republican President George HW Bush at the end of the Cold War.
Additionally, Russia announced that it successfully tested two new weapons capable of carrying nuclear warheads. These included a missile rumored to penetrate US defense systems and an underwater drone capable of impacting the American west coast.
Following the announcement, many experts expressed concerns that resuming tests might lead to an arms race. Daryl G Kimball from the ACA stated, Trump is misinformed and out of touch...The US has no technical, military, or political justification for resuming nuclear explosive testing for the first time since 1992.
Trump’s directive comes approximately 100 days before the expiration of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia, which is the last remaining nuclear arms treaty in force.
Historically, the US tested its first atomic bomb in July 1945 and remains the only nation to have used such weapons in wartime.
