U.S. President Donald Trump has authorised the Pentagon to resume nuclear weapons testing, ending a three-decade moratorium that has been in place since 1992. The decision, confirmed by White House officials on Thursday October 30th, has drawn global condemnation and raised fears of a new arms race.
According to administration sources, the first subcritical test will take place at the Nevada National Security Site before the end of 2025. Officials say the move is aimed at “ensuring the reliability of America’s nuclear arsenal,” but critics argue it undermines decades of non-proliferation progress.
The announcement comes amid rising geopolitical tensions with China, Russia, and North Korea. Experts warn that the move could prompt rival powers to resume their own testing programs, destabilising existing treaties such as the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
Global leaders, including U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, condemned the decision, urging Washington to reconsider. “The world cannot afford another nuclear arms race,” he said in a statement.
Protests have already erupted outside the White House and in major cities, with anti-nuclear activists calling the move reckless and dangerous.
