Seoul: US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday, just before his scheduled talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, that he has instructed the US Department of Defense to immediately resume nuclear weapons testing. Trump emphasized the need for the US to be “on an equal footing” with other nuclear powers.
According to Thai News Agency, Trump communicated this directive via his social media platform “Truth Social.” He cited recent nuclear testing activities by other countries as the rationale behind his decision. Trump articulated that the Pentagon has been tasked with initiating the testing process without delay to ensure the US maintains its nuclear capabilities in line with global powers.
Further elaborating on nuclear capabilities, Trump stated that Russia ranks second worldwide, with China following as a distant third. He warned, however, that both nations could potentially achieve nuclear parity with the United States within the next five years, underscoring the urgency of his dir
ective.
This order to resume nuclear testing follows a statement from Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, announcing Russia’s successful test of the “Poseidon,” a special nuclear-powered torpedo. Military analysts have warned that Poseidon could devastate coastal regions by generating massive radioactive waves.
As Trump ramps up his rhetoric and position on Russia, Putin has been publicly showcasing his own nuclear capabilities. This includes testing a new cruise missile, the “Burevestnik,” on October 21, and conducting nuclear exercises the following day on October 22.