U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments during a recent 60 Minutes interview have reignited global debate over Trump nuclear weapons policy. In the interview, Trump claimed that several nations — including Pakistan, China, Russia, and North Korea — are secretly conducting nuclear weapons tests, using this assertion to justify his call for the United States to resume its own testing program so it is “not the only country that doesn’t test.”
In his discussion with Norah O’Donnell, Trump justified his stance by saying that the United States should not be “the only country that doesn’t test.” He added that “Russia’s testing, China’s testing, and certainly North Korea’s been testing — Pakistan’s been testing too,” though he offered no evidence to support these claims.
Pakistan and China Deny Trump’s Nuclear Weapons Claims
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry swiftly responded, rejecting Trump nuclear weapons allegations made during the 60 Minutes interview. Officials stated that Pakistan “will not be the first to resume nuclear tests” and reaffirmed its commitment to the long-standing moratorium on nuclear explosions. Similarly, China dismissed the Trump nuclear weapons claim as “groundless,” insisting that it continues to observe its test ban and urging the United States to do the same.
Experts Challenge the Claims
Nuclear experts have cast doubt on Trump’s nuclear weapons assertions, noting that there is no verified seismic or satellite evidence of recent nuclear detonations by Pakistan, China, or Russia. Analysts also cautioned that Trump nuclear weapons remarks blur the distinction between full nuclear explosions and “subcritical” or “laboratory-based” testing — activities that do not produce a nuclear yield and are not prohibited under international treaties.
The U.S. Department of Energy later clarified that any upcoming testing under discussion would be non-explosive system evaluations, not full nuclear detonations.
Implications for Global Security
The Trump nuclear weapons comments come at a sensitive time for international arms control. A U.S. move to resume nuclear testing could trigger a chain reaction of similar actions by other nuclear-armed states, potentially unraveling decades of non-proliferation progress.
For South Asia, where relations between India and Pakistan remain tense, Trump’s statements risk inflaming regional rivalries. Observers warn that even unverified claims can escalate distrust and military posturing among nuclear powers.
A Return to Cold War Rhetoric?
Trump’s call for renewed testing echoes Cold War-era policies, emphasizing deterrence through demonstration of capability. However, experts argue that such rhetoric undermines global confidence in disarmament efforts and could weaken the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which prohibits explosive nuclear tests.
While Trump’s supporters frame the move as a signal of U.S. strength, critics see it as a dangerous step backward that may destabilize fragile nuclear diplomacy.
Source: CBS News
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