WASHINGTON(The COW News Digital) U.S. President Donald Trump has directed the military to immediately begin testing nuclear weapons, a move that has stunned Washington’s allies and reignited fears of a new global arms race.
In a statement posted on social media early Thursday, President Trump said he had instructed the Department of Defense to “initiate nuclear weapons testing without delay,” asserting that the United States must remain “on equal footing” with nations actively pursuing such programs.
“America must not fall behind,” Trump wrote. “Countries like Russia and China are advancing their nuclear capabilities — the U.S. will not sit idle.”
The president claimed that the United States already possesses the world’s largest stockpile of nuclear weapons, with Russia ranking second and China projected to reach parity within five years. He added that the decision was driven by national security imperatives and the need to maintain strategic deterrence in an increasingly unstable global environment.
Defense officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that preliminary technical assessments are underway but declined to provide details about potential testing sites or timelines. The Pentagon has yet to issue an official statement outlining the scope or objectives of the testing order.
International reaction has been swift. Analysts warn that the move could shatter decades of restraint under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which the United States has signed but not ratified. Global arms control advocates fear a renewed cycle of escalation among major powers.
Diplomatic observers note that the announcement comes amid heightened tensions with China and Russia — both of whom have recently expanded their strategic arsenals — and amid growing calls within the U.S. Congress for a tougher military posture.
Critics at home have described the order as reckless and politically motivated, while Trump’s supporters argue it reasserts America’s dominance and deterrent credibility.
If implemented, this would mark the first U.S. nuclear test in more than three decades, reversing a long-standing policy of voluntary restraint observed since the early 1990s.
