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illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: President Donald Trump has directed the Pentagon to resume nuclear weapons testing, reversing a decades-old U.S. policy of nuclear moratorium
• His announcement came just before a high-stakes trade meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea
• Trump stated the tests would occur "on an equal basis" with Russia and China, signaling a potential escalation in the global arms race
• The last U.S. nuclear test was conducted in 1992, and this move could drastically alter the geopolitical landscape, particularly in U.S.-China relations
🔭 The context: Trump’s directive reflects heightened tensions with global powers, especially Russia and China, both of which have been advancing their nuclear capabilities
• Russia’s recent tests of a nuclear-powered super torpedo and cruise missile prompted a reaction from the U.S., with Trump positioning the resumption of nuclear testing as a countermeasure
• The U.S. remains a key signatory of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), although it has not ratified the treaty
• This announcement comes amidst a volatile U.S.-China trade relationship, as well as broader concerns about the pace of nuclear arms modernization globally
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Trump’s decision to resume nuclear testing could have significant implications for global security, arms control, and non-proliferation efforts
• With over 2,000 nuclear tests conducted globally since 1945, most nations halted testing in the 1990s, recognizing the dangers of escalation
• Trump’s move risks reigniting an arms race, particularly with China, which has been rapidly modernizing its nuclear arsenal
• This could undermine global disarmament efforts and destabilize already fragile diplomatic relations between the U.S., Russia, and China, possibly encouraging other nations to accelerate their nuclear weapons programs
⏭️ What's next: Trump’s announcement could influence future negotiations with Russia and China, potentially prompting them to enhance their nuclear capabilities or reconsider arms control agreements
• The U.S. Department of Energy would need significant time to restart testing infrastructure, with at least 36 months required to resume underground tests at the Nevada test site
• The coming months may also see increased tensions surrounding nuclear arms control, particularly with Beijing, which has expressed concern about U.S. actions
• Additionally, Trump's broader foreign policy may now be shaped by these developments, as both nuclear disarmament and trade talks with China unfold
💬 One quote: “The United States has no technical, military, or political reason to resume nuclear explosive testing.” – Daryl Kimball, Executive Director of the Arms Control Association
📈 One stat: China is expected to surpass 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030, which would place it in close competition with the U.S. and Russia in nuclear stockpile size
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