2025-10-30 20:18
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2025-10-30 20:18
President Trump's announcement of the resumption of nuclear weapons tests is intended to make sure our arsenal is functioning properly, Vice President J.D. Vance said on Thursday. He said that although the weapon is functional, it must be controlled.
Vance referred to Trump's words regarding the resumption of nuclear weapons tests during a meeting with journalists near the White House about the effects of the shutdown. Asked to explain Trump's decision, Vance said the president's post on the subject “speaks for itself.”
– We have a huge arsenal. Of course, the Russians have a huge nuclear arsenal. The Chinese have a huge nuclear arsenal. Sometimes it needs to be tested to make sure it's working properly, the vice president said. – We work very closely, even with countries with which we do not have the best relations, to limit the spread of nuclear weapons. The president will continue to work on this, but an important element of American national security is making sure that this nuclear arsenal actually functions properly, he added.
Vance noted that authorities know that U.S. nuclear weapons are working properly, but “they constantly need to be monitored, and the president just wants to make sure we do that.”
The vice president did not answer PAP's question whether this was a response to Russian tests of nuclear missiles, stating that he would not speak further on this topic.
Trump said on Thursday, just before his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, that he had ordered the Pentagon to resume tests, citing attempts by other countries.
“Because of other countries' testing programs, I have directed the Department of War to begin testing our nuclear weapons on an equal basis. This process will begin immediately,” Trump wrote on his own social media platform, Truth Social.
This announcement was made against the background of recent statements by the Russian authorities about tests of missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons – the Burevestnik cruise missile and the Poseidon underwater drone. However, these were supposed to be missile tests, not nuclear warhead tests.
Trump did not explain what exactly prompted his decision. When later questioned about this by reporters aboard Air Force One, the president said only that “it has to do with other countries” that “all seem to be testing” their weapons.
The last known nuclear test took place in 2017 and was conducted by North Korea. The remaining countries have not conducted any nuclear weapons tests in the 21st century. The last known detonation of a nuclear bomb by China took place in 1996, but for years analysts have been pointing to activity at the Lob-nor nuclear test site that indicates preparations for a test. Trump posted his post just before his scheduled meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
The last American test took place in 1992. The United States signed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1996, but the Senate never voted to ratify it.
From Washington Oskar Górzyński (PAP)
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