In a move that has sent shockwaves through international diplomacy and nuclear nonproliferation circles, U.S. President Donald Trump has directed the Pentagon to immediately restart nuclear weapons testing, ending a 33-year moratorium observed since 1992.
The directive comes at a precarious moment for global arms control. The last remaining U.S.-Russia nuclear treaty, New START, is set to expire in early 2026 without renewal prospects, leaving no formal limits on strategic arsenals. The U.S. maintains approximately 5,225 nuclear warheads, compared to Russia’s 5,580 and China’s estimated 500 (with projections of rapid expansion to 1,000 by 2030). Experts warn that resuming tests could unravel the de facto global taboo established by the unratified Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) of 1996, encouraging other nations to follow suit.
While Trump’s rhetoric promises swift action, nuclear experts emphasize the immense challenges ahead.
Beyond the superpowers, the directive could catalyze proliferation in unstable regions. In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia has signaled interest in nuclear capabilities. Asia’s non-nuclear states, like Japan and South Korea, may reconsider their pacifist stances.
