Donald Trump has directed the Pentagon to immediately begin matching Russia and China in nuclear weapons testing. The announcement was made in a Truth Social post on Wednesday. In his post, Trump wrote that “because of other countries’ testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately.” The statement came less than an hour before Trump was scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. The leaders aimed to discuss a truce in the ongoing US-China trade tensions. This is their first face-to-face meeting since 2019. The United States last conducted a full nuclear test in 1992. Both Russia and China have not performed similar tests since that period. Trump’s reference to “on an equal basis” left unclear what type of testing he meant. It could involve simulated tests, missile trials, or displays of nuclear capability, similar to recent Russian demonstrations. Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the successful test of the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile. This weapon is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. The Kremlin described the test as a measure to “ensure national security.” Trump called Putin’s announcement “not appropriate,” while Russian officials said the US had been notified in advance. The Burevestnik test comes amid Russia’s increased nuclear rhetoric and a pause in US-Russia negotiations over the Ukraine conflict. On Wednesday, Putin also claimed Russia tested a Poseidon nuclear-powered super torpedo. Military analysts say this weapon could devastate coastal cities by triggering radioactive ocean surges. In his Truth Social post, Trump incorrectly stated that the US has the largest nuclear arsenal. In reality, Russia holds over 5,500 nuclear warheads, while the US has about 5,044, according to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. Since 1998, no nation except North Korea has conducted a full explosive nuclear test. However, countries like the US continue to conduct computer-simulated explosions, missile trials, and subcritical tests to ensure their arsenals remain effective. The last US nuclear test, called “Divider,” took place on 23 September 1992 at the Nevada National Security Site. That same year, President George H.W. Bush announced a moratorium on underground testing. The US retains the ability to resume tests at the Nevada site if required. Nevada Congresswoman Dina Titus strongly opposed Trump’s order, posting on X: “Absolutely not. I’ll be introducing legislation to put a stop to this.” Despite repeated statements from Washington and Moscow to halt the nuclear arms race, progress has been limited. Recently, the Kremlin criticized Trump’s plans for a missile defense system, referred to as the Golden Dome. Trump claims it would protect the US from attacks. During his first term, Trump reportedly sought to increase the US nuclear arsenal tenfold. In December 2016, he tweeted that the United States must “greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes.” Trump’s latest directive signals a renewed push to showcase US nuclear power. Analysts warn it could escalate tensions with Russia and China and complicate global efforts to curb nuclear proliferation. The Pentagon has not yet provided details on how the testing program will be executed. As Trump meets Xi Jinping in South Korea, the world watches closely. The interaction could shape US-China trade relations and influence the broader balance of nuclear power. Experts emphasize the importance of careful diplomacy alongside military preparedness to prevent miscalculations in global security.