BUSAN, South Korea (FN) — President Donald Trump’s announcement that the United States will resume nuclear weapons testing for the first time in 33 years has drawn swift international backlash, including a pointed response from Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Trump made the declaration Wednesday on Truth Social, writing, “Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately.” The post came just minutes before his scheduled meeting with Xi in Busan, South Korea.
Xi Jinping responded by urging Trump to reconsider, warning that “provocative actions risk destabilizing global security.” According to Chinese state media, Xi told Trump during their closed-door meeting that “China remains committed to peaceful deterrence and urges all nuclear powers to avoid escalation.”
The announcement also drew concern from European leaders and arms control advocates. French President Emmanuel Macron called the move “deeply troubling,” while British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said it “undermines decades of progress in nuclear non-proliferation.”
Russia, which recently showcased new nuclear-capable delivery systems, including the Poseidon torpedo and a nuclear-powered cruise missile, has not conducted a confirmed nuclear test since 1990. President Vladimir Putin has not publicly responded to Trump’s statement, though Kremlin officials said the U.S. move “complicates future arms control negotiations.”
The United States has not detonated a nuclear weapon since 1992, relying instead on computer simulations and subcritical tests. While the U.S. signed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1996, it has never ratified it. Past administrations have largely observed its provisions.
Trump’s directive comes roughly 100 days before the expiration of the New START treaty, the last major arms control agreement between the U.S. and Russia. The treaty limits each country to 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear weapons. It cannot be extended again.
Arms control experts warn that Trump’s announcement could trigger a domino effect, prompting other nuclear-armed nations—including India, Pakistan, and North Korea—to resume testing. North Korea was the last country to conduct a confirmed nuclear test, during Trump’s first term.
Ben Rhodes, former deputy national security adviser, said the move “risks unraveling the entire global arms control framework.” Daryl Kimball of the Arms Control Association added, “This is a dangerous step backward that could reignite a global arms race.”
Trump did not clarify whether the tests would involve actual detonations or demonstrations of missile capabilities. The Pentagon has not commented, and the Department of Energy—which traditionally oversees nuclear testing—has not issued a statement.
The president’s remarks have also raised concerns among U.S. allies. Israel, which maintains an undeclared nuclear arsenal, and NATO members are reportedly monitoring the situation closely.
As global leaders react, the international community faces renewed uncertainty over the future of nuclear diplomacy and deterrence.
