Overview
- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the order, saying nuclear testing can never be permitted as global nuclear risks are already high.
- The Kremlin indicated Russia would resume testing if the United States does, following Moscow’s recent demonstrations of nuclear-capable systems.
- Arms-control experts, including Daryl Kimball, said resuming underground explosive tests would likely take at least 36 months at the Nevada site.
- Oversight confusion deepened because nuclear explosive testing falls under the Department of Energy’s NNSA rather than the Pentagon.
- Domestic and international criticism intensified as Rep. Dina Titus vowed legislation to block testing and officials in Japan and Iran denounced the move.