Trump Orders US Nuclear Testing Resumption After 33-Year Moratorium, Sparking Global Concerns

President Donald Trump announced the United States will resume nuclear weapons testing after a 33-year moratorium, citing recent nuclear-capable weapons demonstrations by Russia and China's expanding arsenal as justifications. The decision, made just before his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, aims to maintain parity with other nuclear powers amid heightened global tensions and upcoming expiration of the New START treaty. Trump emphasized the U.S. has the largest nuclear arsenal and indicated the testing would be conducted on an "equal basis" with Russia and China, though he expressed a desire for eventual denuclearization. The Kremlin responded by clarifying that Russia has not conducted nuclear weapon tests despite recent weapons demonstrations and warned it would conduct tests if the U.S. proceeded first. China's foreign ministry urged the U.S. to adhere to the global nuclear testing ban. Experts warn that resuming U.S. nuclear testing could escalate nuclear proliferation risks worldwide.