Trump shocks the world with call to resume nuclear tests

Trump acknowledged the “tremendous destructive power” of nuclear weapons and made clear that updating the US arsenal was a necessity during his administration, claiming that China’s nuclear capabilities could pose a significant threat “within five years.”

The move marks a dramatic reversal of a long-standing US strategy led by former President George HW Bush, who imposed a moratorium on nuclear testing after the end of the Cold War.

But the Kremlin is weighing in: Russia claimed this weekend to have successfully tested two new weapons capable of carrying nuclear warheads, including a missile designed to breach U.S. defense systems.

Their spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, responded to Trump’s comments, stressing: “This cannot in any way be interpreted as a nuclear test.”

China has also responded, urging the US to honor the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and uphold its pledge to halt nuclear testing.