Confusion is reigning over U.S. nuclear policy following a vague social media post by Donald Trump directing the “Department of War” to “start testing.” This order, justified by claims of foreign cheating, has unclear implications for the decades-long U.S. test moratorium.
The ambiguity is total: it is not known if “testing” refers to computational modeling or the first physical U.S. nuclear explosion since 1992. This lack of clarity has left experts and allies on edge.
Trump’s rationale for the order is his claim that rivals are already testing. He alleged in an interview that Russia and China are conducting secret tests “way underground,” thus hiding them from public view.
China immediately and forcefully denied this allegation. A foreign ministry spokesperson stated that China is “responsible” and has “abided by its commitment to suspend nuclear testing.”
This international dispute unfolds against a backdrop of renewed military posturing. Trump’s order comes shortly after Russia tested a new nuclear-powered cruise missile, and as Trump himself has been touting the size of the U.S. arsenal.