Donald Trump’s order to resume U.S. nuclear testing was strategically timed, coming just minutes before a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and in the wake of a new Russian missile test. The former president cited alleged secret tests by both nations as his justification.
In a social media post on Thursday, Trump announced the new policy. “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.
China, the target of his claim, issued a firm denial. The foreign ministry stated that China “upheld a self-defence nuclear strategy” and has always “abided by its commitment to suspend nuclear testing.”
Trump repeated his accusations in a CBS interview, claiming Russia and China test “way underground where people don’t know exactly what’s happening.” He also named North Korea and Pakistan as offenders.
This directive has created confusion over whether the U.S. will detonate a nuclear weapon for the first time since 1992. Trump’s move appears to be a direct response to Russia’s testing of its Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile.