U.S. President Donald Trump made a surprise announcement on Thursday, ordering the U.S. military to immediately resume testing nuclear weapons after a 33-year hiatus.
The order, posted on Truth Social minutes before his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea, instructs the Pentagon to test the U.S. nuclear arsenal on an "equal basis" with other nuclear powers.
Trump stated that testing is necessary due to other countries' programs, claiming Russia is second and China will catch up to the U.S. within five years. He later affirmed that testing is needed to ensure the U.S. keeps pace with rivals.
It remains unclear if the order refers to nuclear-explosive testing (the type that has not been conducted by any major power, besides North Korea, in over 25 years) or the flight testing of nuclear-capable missiles.
China's Foreign Ministry called on the U.S. to abide by the moratorium on nuclear testing and uphold global strategic stability. A senior Russian lawmaker reportedly said the decision would usher in a new era of unpredictability and open confrontation.
While ordering testing, Trump also reiterated his desire for denuclearization, stating the U.S. is already discussing the issue with Russia and would welcome China into the talks if an agreement were reached.
