US President Donald Trump has ordered the Department of Defense (Pentagon) to immediately resume nuclear weapons testing. He stated that this testing should be on par with China and Russia. The US last conducted a nuclear test on September 23, 1992. This was America’s 1,030th test. The test was conducted at the Nevada Test Site, 2,300 feet below the Rainier Mesa mountain, to prevent radiation from spreading. It was codenamed Divider. The explosion was so powerful underground that it melted the underlying rocks. The ground surface rose approximately 1 foot and then sank. A crater 150 meters wide and 10 meters deep is still visible. It is noteworthy that the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) signed in 1996 prohibited underground nuclear testing. Both China and the US have signed this treaty but have not yet formally ratified it. George Bush imposed a moratorium on nuclear testing. A full nuclear weapon test involves the detonation of a live nuclear bomb to measure its destructive power, radiation impact, and technical efficiency. This test involves a nuclear reaction. Such tests were typically conducted underground or in the air. This poses a significant environmental and political issue because of the risk of radiation exposure. After the last nuclear test in 1992, then-President George H.W. Bush announced a moratorium on underground nuclear testing. Nuclear weapons testing has caused 6.9 lakh deaths in the US. Some US lawmakers believe that if the US does not conduct nuclear tests again, its nuclear arsenal could be weakened. However, scientists say that modern technology can be used to inspect and protect weapons even without detonation. According to a 2017 study by University of Arizona economist Keith Meyers, radiation exposure from these nuclear tests in the US caused the deaths or serious health effects of approximately 6.9 lakh American citizens. So far in the 21st century, only North Korea has conducted nuclear tests. The US and South Korea have consistently pressured Kim Jong Un to give up nuclear weapons and move towards a peaceful settlement. Trump Justifies Order for Nuclear Tests Trump justified the US’s order to test nuclear weapons again after three decades. He said, “Russia and China are both doing it. We have the most nuclear weapons, but we don’t… But other countries are testing. I think we should too.” He did not specify when or where the US would conduct its nuclear tests, saying only, “We have testing sites, and we will announce them soon.” When asked if he thought this could lead the world into a more dangerous nuclear environment, Trump replied, “I think we’ve kept it largely under control.” Trump further stated, “I would like to see nuclear disarmament. We are talking to Russia about this, and if something happens, China will also be included.” According to an August report by the US Congressional Research Service, it would take approximately 24 to 36 months for the US to test a nuclear weapon after the president orders it. Russia has already tested a nuclear-powered missile. Russia tested a nuclear-powered missile on October 21st, which Trump called a wrong move. He said that Putin should stop the war instead of testing missiles. Trump said that the war, which was supposed to end in a week, would be four years old and he should pay attention to it. Trump also claimed in his post that the US possesses the largest number of nuclear weapons in the world. However, international data shows this claim to be false. According to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, Russia possesses the largest number of nuclear warheads, with over 5,500, while the US has approximately 5,044. Trump was wrong on the nuclear weapons claim. In his Truthout social post, Trump also falsely claimed that the United States possesses more nuclear weapons than any other country. According to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, Russia currently possesses the most confirmed nuclear weapons with over 5,500 nuclear warheads, while the United States possesses 5,044 nuclear weapons. Trump’s decision was mocked on Chinese social media. Chinese social media users expressed surprise, while some even expressed joy, at US President Donald Trump’s announcement to resume nuclear testing. One user on the Chinese platform Weibo wrote, “Well, well, if they (the US) resume nuclear testing, we will too!” Another Weibo user wrote, “We were just waiting for them to take the first step; what happens now will be beyond their control.” Meanwhile, another user mocked the US, writing, “Looking at the current state of America, I’m afraid they might blow themselves up while testing.” ———————————— Read the news related to Russia’s nuclear missile test… 1. Russia successfully tests nuclear-capable torpedo “Poseidon”: Creates radioactive sea waves, can destroy coastal areas in an instant President Vladimir Putin said that Russia has successfully tested a new nuclear weapon, the Poseidon torpedo. This torpedo creates radioactive sea waves, making coastal cities uninhabitable. Putin shared information about this torpedo while meeting with soldiers injured in the Ukrainian war on Tuesday. He said that there is no other weapon like it in the world. Read the full news here… 2. Russia tests world’s first nuclear-powered missile: Claims unlimited range, Putin says no defense system can stop it Russia has successfully tested the world’s first nuclear-powered cruise missile, the Burevstnik-9M739. It is being claimed that this missile has unlimited range. President Vladimir Putin said during a video conference on Sunday that all tests have been completed. No country in the world possesses such a missile. Read the full story here…
