United States President Donald Trump signaled a major shift in nuclear policy, stating that the nation must resume nuclear weapons testing to maintain its strategic superiority against global rivals. The President emphasized that the US currently possesses the world’s largest nuclear arsenal, a position he claimed to have reinforced during his time in office. This potential move would break a decades-long informal moratorium on explosive nuclear tests, dramatically increasing global security tensions.
According to a video posted on the Official YouTube channel of Times of India, while discussing the nuclear capabilities of the US, Russia, and China, President Trump stated, “We have more nuclear weapons than any other country, and we have to test them.” He expressed deep concern that both Russia and, particularly, China are rapidly advancing their arsenals, suggesting that China could be on par with the US within four or five years if no action is taken.
The President lamented the need to maintain and modernize the nuclear stockpile, claiming he “hated to do it,” but felt he had “no choice” given the actions of other nuclear powers. He positioned the decision to resume testing as a necessary defensive step to protect national security interests and deter potential adversaries who are continually developing and modernizing their own nuclear capabilities.
Despite this focus on increasing military strength, Trump also voiced a desire for the complete denuclearization of global arsenals. He proposed that the world’s top three nuclear powers, namely the United States, Russia, and China, should convene a meeting to collectively agree on a significant reduction in weapons. He suggested that multilateral agreements should ultimately replace the need for unilateral testing.
However, the President’s assertion that “we have to test” signals a heightened sense of urgency regarding the readiness and efficacy of the US arsenal. While not specifying when testing might occur or if it would involve warhead explosions, the statement confirms the administration’s active consideration of a policy change with profound implications for the international arms control framework and geopolitical stability. Read Original