Overview
- President Trump said he told the Pentagon to resume U.S. nuclear weapons testing on an “equal basis” with other countries, a claim paired with disputed assertions that Russia and China are conducting tests.
- Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the immediate focus appears to be system or non‑critical testing rather than nuclear explosions, and the president has not clarified the scope.
- Vladimir Putin instructed Russia’s ministries, security services and civilian agencies to submit proposals on preparing for possible nuclear tests and indicated Russia would take reciprocal measures if others conduct explosive tests.
- Russian officials said the Novaya Zemlya site could host tests on short notice, with military leaders warning that full preparations for detonations can take months to years.
- Fourteen U.S. senators urged Trump to abandon or clarify any plan to resume explosive testing, related bills were introduced to block it, and no evidence of nuclear detonations has been reported as the U.S. conducted a routine unarmed Minuteman III launch.