In a move that has sent ripples through the global security community, US President Donald Trump on Thursday directed the US military to immediately resume nuclear weapons testing, effectively ending the 33-year moratorium that has been in place since 1992. The announcement, made via a social media post while Trump was en route to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea, marks a significant shift in US defence and foreign policy.

President Trump stated that the decision was prompted by reports of alleged nuclear testing programmes by other major powers, suggesting that the United States must act “on an equal basis” to ensure its national security and technological superiority. He emphasized that renewed testing would strengthen deterrence capabilities and verify the reliability of the existing nuclear arsenal.

The move has sparked strong international reactions, with analysts warning it could escalate global tensions and potentially trigger a new nuclear arms race. Critics argue that the decision undermines decades of diplomatic progress toward non-proliferation and contradicts the principles of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which the US has signed but not ratified.

Defence officials are expected to begin preparations for subcritical tests at the Nevada National Security Site, pending final clearances. As the world watches closely, the decision marks a dramatic turning point in global nuclear policy — one that could reshape international security dynamics and reignite debates over disarmament and deterrence strategy.