Trump Orders US Nuclear Testing Amid Global Security and Environmental Concerns

President Donald Trump announced the United States will resume nuclear weapons testing, citing other countries' testing programs as justification. The announcement, made on social media and reiterated during a flight from South Korea, raised global alarm due to the ambiguity over whether it refers to explosive nuclear testing or routine missile tests. Experts warn that resuming nuclear testing would be a highly provocative political statement likely to incite other nuclear powers such as Russia and China to restart their own testing programs, destabilizing international security. The announcement drew widespread condemnation from the international community, including Iran, Japan's atomic bomb survivor groups, China, and the United Nations, all emphasizing the importance of adhering to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and the global norm against nuclear explosions. Vice President J.D. Vance defended the testing as necessary to ensure the functionality of the U.S. arsenal. The development marks a significant shift in U.S. nuclear policy, potentially jeopardizing decades of efforts to curb nuclear proliferation and heightening superpower tensions.