Trump Orders U.S. Nuclear Tests After Russia Showcases Poseidon

Overview

• President Vladimir Putin said Russia tested the nuclear‑powered Poseidon unmanned undersea vehicle, claiming its reactor was activated and that it cannot be intercepted.
• President Donald Trump directed an immediate resumption of U.S. nuclear tests, with the Pentagon saying details on scope and schedule will follow.
• The White House has not clarified whether the U.S. move involves underground explosive warhead tests or trials of delivery systems.
• The Kremlin denied conducting nuclear detonations and warned Russia would respond if the U.S. ends the testing moratorium, while China urged adherence to the test‑ban framework and the CTBTO cautioned that any explosive test would be destabilizing.
• The United States last carried out an explosive nuclear test in 1992, and experts say restarting underground detonations would require months to years of preparation even as simulations and subcritical experiments continue.