Overview
- Trump told reporters on Air Force One that the United States will conduct nuclear testing, reiterating his late-October directive posted to Truth Social.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the stated aim is to verify the safety of the arsenal, while analysts note Trump’s comments blur missile trials with explosive warhead tests.
- The UN chief condemned any nuclear explosions, China urged Washington to uphold CTBT commitments, and Iran denounced the directive as irresponsible.
- The Kremlin cautioned that a U.S. test would end a decades-long de facto ban, with Putin prepared to respond in kind if others break the moratorium.
- With New START set to expire in early February, experts say losing mutual limits and verification raises the risk of miscalculation in a renewed great-power nuclear competition.