Trump order to resume nuclear weapons testing — likely in Nevada — raises global tensions

Editor’s note: “Behind the News” is the product of Sun staff assisted by the Sun’s AI lab, which includes a variety of tools such as Anthropic’s Claude, Perplexity AI, Google Gemini and ChatGPT.

President Donald Trump on Thursday ordered the U.S. military to begin the process of resuming testing of nuclear weapons for the first time in three decades, citing the need for strategic parity with Russia and China. While the U.S. military regularly tests missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads, it has not detonated actual nuclear weapons since 1992 [1]. “That process will begin immediately,” Trump stated on Truth Social. If implemented, this decision would undermine decades of international arms control efforts and could trigger a new nuclear arms race.

Nuclear test ban treaty

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty is a multilateral agreement that bans all nuclear weapon test explosions anywhere in the world [2]. Opened for signature in 1996, the treaty has been signed by 187 nations and ratified by 178 [2]. However, it has not formally entered into force because it requires ratification by 44 specific countries, including the United States, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, Iran, Egypt and Russia [2].

The treaty prohibits any nuclear weapon test explosion regardless of yield or environment [3]. It establishes a global verification regime using the International Monitoring System, which employs seismic, radionuclide, hydroacoustic and infrasound stations to detect nuclear explosions [4]. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization oversees implementation and manages the verification system, which consists of over 300 monitoring stations worldwide and an International Data Centre in Vienna [5, 7]. The treaty was designed to constrain nuclear weapons development, prevent new weapon types and support global disarmament efforts [3].

North Korea is the only country to have conducted nuclear tests in the 21st century, with its last test in 2017 [8]. Russia ratified the CTBT in 2000 but withdrew its ratification in 2023 [6]. The treaty has established a strong global norm against nuclear testing despite not being fully in force [9].

Impact of resuming testing

Though the CTBT is not in force, consistent state practice has created a near-customary norm against testing that a U.S. return would challenge [12]. The U.N. Security Council has condemned specific tests as threats to peace but has not ruled nuclear tests illegal under general international law [13]. Resumption would likely prompt retaliatory or competitive testing by other states [13].

Renewal of U.S. nuclear testing risks triggering a new nuclear arms race, prompting Russia, China and others to escalate testing and weapon development [3]. It would complicate diplomatic efforts on nuclear proliferation and disarmament while potentially destabilizing international relations [14]. Testing would provoke widespread condemnation, though enforcement options remain limited to political and diplomatic pressures [15].

When could testing resume?

The U.S. could practically resume nuclear weapons testing only after considerable preparation, even following the recent presidential directive. The technical, regulatory and legislative steps involved mean a live nuclear test could not happen instantly.[21]

The only site presently equipped for nuclear testing is the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), where underground tests were previously conducted. The infrastructure has declined over three decades, necessitating weeks or months of preparation to safely and securely carry out an explosive test. Experts suggest the technical capability exists but is not “ready-to-go” overnight.[22][23]

Trump’s rationale

Trump’s threat to resume nuclear testing stems from his desire to maintain strategic parity with Russia and China. He stated that because these countries are conducting nuclear weapons testing programs, he directed the Defense Department to commence testing “on an equal footing” [17]. This was announced before a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

Trump cited several security concerns. He noted that Russia recently tested new nuclear-capable weapons, including a nuclear-powered cruise missile and strategic missile systems [18, 19]. He also highlighted that China is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal and could catch up to the U.S. within five years [18].

Trump framed the decision as necessary to maintain U.S. nuclear superiority and deterrence [19, 20]. Despite expressing personal reservations, stating “I hated to do it, but had no choice,” he characterized it as a response to adversary advances [17]. The announcement has raised concerns about triggering a new arms race and undermining global arms control efforts [17]. Trump’s threat to resume U.S. nuclear testing would have significant impacts on international law and treaty frameworks, destabilizing norms aimed at nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament. While Trump justifies this stance as maintaining strategic parity with Russia and China, experts warn it could spark a dangerous new era of nuclear competition and undermine decades of arms control progress.

Sources

[1] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/trump-orders-pentagon-begin-testing-nuclear-weapons-immediately-rcna240681

[2] https://www.ctbto.org/our-mission/the-treaty

[3] https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/comprehensive-test-ban-treaty-glance

[4] https://www.nti.org/education-center/treaties-and-regimes/comprehensive-nuclear-test-ban-treaty-ctbt/

[5] https://www.ctbto.org/our-work/verification-regime

[6] https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/nuclear-testing-and-comprehensive-test-ban-treaty-ctbt-timeline

[7] https://www.ctbto.org/sites/default/files/2023-10/2022_treaty_booklet_E.pdf

[8] https://lieber.westpoint.edu/legal-assessment-north-korean-missile-tests/

[9] https://banmonitor.org/tpnw-prohibitions/the-prohibition-on-testing-of-nuclear-weapons

[10] https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/trumps-baffling-call-for-resuming-u-s-nuclear-tests/

[11] https://www.newscientist.com/article/2502130-the-us-is-unlikely-to-test-nuclear-weapons-despite-what-trump-says/

[12] https://ctnw.ctbto.org/ctnw/event/4799/posters/33D7B00E9B644A5EB7A0A9F23E6BB980

[13] https://www.asil.org/insights/volume/21/issue/4/illegality-nuclear-weapons-tests-under-international-law%E2%80%94filling-possible

[14] https://www.democracynow.org/2025/10/30/nuclear_weapons

[15] https://www.jpost.com/international/article-872235

[16] https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2025/10/30/why-nuclear-testing-stopped-and-what-trumps-order-to-resume-could-mean/

[17] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/30/is-trump-launching-a-new-nuclear-arms-race-with-first-us-tests-in-33-years

[18] https://sg.news.yahoo.com/us-resume-testing-nuclear-weapons-051149711.html

[19] https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-orders-us-nuclear-weapons-testing-begin-immediately-after-russia-tests-new-missiles

[20] https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/10/30/trump-us-nuclear-tests-explainer/6453971a-b562-11f0-88c1-4e2f98984a34_story.html

[21] https://www.reuters.com/world/china/trump-asks-pentagon-immediately-start-testing-us-nuclear-weapons-2025-10-30/ 

[22] https://sgp.fas.org/crs/nuke/IF11662.pdf

[23] https://www.stimson.org/2025/the-chapter-on-us-nuclear-testing-must-be-closed/