US President Donald Trump claimed that Pakistan, China, and Russia are secretly conducting nuclear weapons tests, arguing that the United States should not remain the only major power abstaining from such activities, in a televised interview with 60 Minutes.
Trump, who recently directed the Pentagon to resume nuclear testing “immediately,” said that North Korea, Pakistan, and others are already testing but “don’t go and tell you about it.” His comments have renewed confusion and concern over whether the US intends to detonate a nuclear device for the first time since 1992.
He argued that America’s vast nuclear arsenal is enough, in his words, “to blow up the world 150 times,” but this does not eliminate the need for actual testing. “You have to see how they work,” Trump said, adding that Russia and China are conducting tests while keeping them quiet. “We are the only country that doesn’t test, I don’t want to be the only country that doesn’t test,” he continued.
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Defending his stance, Trump said that the United States operates more transparently than others. “We are an open society. We talk about it,” he said. “We have to test because they test and others test.” He also maintained that while the use of nuclear weapons remains unthinkable, ensuring their functionality is essential. “This just doesn’t make sense. How are you gonna know if they work? We have to do that”.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office did not issue an immediate response to the allegations.
Trump’s remarks have raised questions about Washington’s commitment to nuclear restraint and could unsettle long-standing international norms. If the US resumes testing, it may strain global non-proliferation efforts and provoke strong reactions from countries accused of covert testing.
