President Trump announces nuclear weapons testing plans amid global concerns
President Trump has announced plans to begin testing nuclear weapons, raising fears of a new arms race as Russia and China respond with warnings.
President Donald Trump announced that the United States will begin testing nuclear weapons, a decision that could potentially spark a new nuclear arms race.”We have more than anybody, but I see them testing. I say, well, if they’re going to test, I guess we have to test. I’d like to see a denuclearization,” Trump said.The president stated this morning, “I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our nuclear weapons on an equal basis (with China and Russia). That process will begin immediately.” Russia responded with a warning that if the U.S. resumes testing, they will too. Meanwhile, China is urging the U.S. to refrain and honor a long-standing test-ban moratorium followed by every nuclear-armed nation except North Korea.It remains unclear what the president means by “testing.” The U.S. already tests missile systems, but experts warn that a higher level of testing could trigger global consequences.”If we resume that kind of underground nuclear testing, and we no longer have strategic nuclear arms control, it’ll be a free-for-all,” said Sharon Squassoni from George Washington University.Experts say realistically, the U.S. would be about three years away from that type of testing, even if the order is given today.For more coverage from the Washington News Bureau:
President Donald Trump announced that the United States will begin testing nuclear weapons, a decision that could potentially spark a new nuclear arms race.
“We have more than anybody, but I see them testing. I say, well, if they’re going to test, I guess we have to test. I’d like to see a denuclearization,” Trump said.
The president stated this morning, “I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our nuclear weapons on an equal basis (with China and Russia). That process will begin immediately.” Russia responded with a warning that if the U.S. resumes testing, they will too. Meanwhile, China is urging the U.S. to refrain and honor a long-standing test-ban moratorium followed by every nuclear-armed nation except North Korea.
It remains unclear what the president means by “testing.” The U.S. already tests missile systems, but experts warn that a higher level of testing could trigger global consequences.
“If we resume that kind of underground nuclear testing, and we no longer have strategic nuclear arms control, it’ll be a free-for-all,” said Sharon Squassoni from George Washington University.
Experts say realistically, the U.S. would be about three years away from that type of testing, even if the order is given today.
For more coverage from the Washington News Bureau: