US President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to immediately begin testing nuclear weapons “on equal terms” with Russia and China.
“The United States has more nuclear weapons than any other country. This was achieved, including a complete renewal and modernization of existing weapons, during my first term in office. Due to their enormous destructive power, I hated to do it, but I had no choice! Russia is in second place, and China is a distant third, but in 5 years it will overtake us in first place. Given the testing programs of other countries, I have instructed the Department of Defense to begin testing our nuclear weapons on equal terms. This process will begin immediately, the US president said.
Later, Trump explained the reasons for this decision. During a conversation with reporters, he was asked why he published the corresponding statement just before a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
In response, he noted that the decision was dictated by the fact that other states are already conducting nuclear weapons tests, while the United States is not:
“I am not connected to other countries, but, you know, they all conduct nuclear tests. We have more nuclear weapons than anyone else. We do not conduct tests. We stopped them many years ago. But since others are doing it, I think we should too.
When asked when and where it will be, the president said to expect it:
“It will be announced. We have test sites. We will announce everything”.
According to Trump, during his first term, the country’s nuclear arsenal was modernized. At the same time, Trump emphasized that he “hated to do it” because of the enormous destructive power of such weapons, however, according to him, he “had no choice”.
