Trump’s announcement of resuming nuclear tests

US President Donald Trump’s announced that the United States would resume nuclear testing.

This decision sparked widespread questions, raising concerns about a potential return of the nuclear arms race to the international arena.

This move was a source of concern for experts and numerous countries, particularly given the escalating tensions between Washington and both Russia and China, which continue to conduct nuclear tests.

In remarks on Thursday, Trump said he had ordered the Pentagon to begin nuclear testing, noting that the United States needed to do so given the testing being conducted by other countries, particularly Russia and China.

He added, “If they’re doing tests, we think we should do them too”.

He explained that these tests were intended to ensure the continued effectiveness of US nuclear weapons.

For its part, Beijing quickly responded to Trump’s remarks, calling on the United States to abide by its commitments under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

Moscow, meanwhile, asserted that its recent tests of a nuclear-powered cruise missile were not nuclear tests.

At the international level, the United Nations condemned the US decision, reiterating that nuclear testing is prohibited under any circumstances.

According to Farhan Haq, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, the nuclear risks are currently very high and that any escalation could have catastrophic consequences.

In an attempt to understand Trump’s motives, experts have offered several hypotheses ranging from his response to recent Russian military developments, such as new nuclear systems, to simply hinting at an intention to resume nuclear testing that could drag the world into a new nuclear age.

Eloise Vaillet, a researcher at the French Institute of International Relations, addressed several hypotheses.

She suggested that Trump might have been referring to missile tests rather than nuclear weapons in the traditional sense.

Or perhaps he meant subcritical testing, which is less impactful but still permitted under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

However, given the ambiguity surrounding Trump’s statements, the possibilities remain open.

The most alarming scenario, however, is the resumption of actual US nuclear testing.

Experts believe there is pressure within the US administration, particularly from Trump supporters, who argue that the United States should be prepared to test its nuclear weapons.

While the US already possesses an effective nuclear weapons simulation program, some believe that resuming testing would have political dimensions aimed at pressuring Russia and China to reach arms control agreements.