Overview
- Trump issued the instruction minutes before a meeting with China’s Xi Jinping in Busan, drawing immediate global attention to the move.
- Russia disputed that its recent drills were nuclear tests and warned it would respond in kind if the U.S. ends the moratorium, while China urged adherence to the global test-ban norm.
- Experts and lawmakers voiced opposition, with Nevada Rep. Dina Titus pledging legislation to block tests and the NNSA chief previously advising against resuming them.
- Specialists note that preparing for underground explosive tests would likely take months to years, with U.S. energy officials citing a 24–36 month readiness standard.
- The United States has not conducted a nuclear explosive test since 1992, relies on simulations and subcritical experiments, and signed but never ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.