Trump directs Pentagon to test nuclear weapons for first time since 1992

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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