GYEONGJU, South Korea (Diya TV) — President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he has ordered the Pentagon to begin testing nuclear weapons for the first time since 1992, marking a dramatic shift in U.S. defense policy and raising global concerns about a potential new nuclear arms race. Trump announced his social media platform, Truth Social, saying the United States must resume nuclear testing “on an equal basis” with other nations.

“Because of other countries’ testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis,” Trump wrote. “That process will begin immediately.”

The order comes ahead of Trump’s high-profile meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. It signals a tougher stance on U.S. nuclear capabilities amid rising tensions with Russia and China. The United States last conducted a confirmed nuclear weapons test in 1992, under President George H.W. Bush. Since then, Washington has maintained a moratorium on explosive nuclear testing.

The Department of Energy oversees the Nevada National Security Site, the designated facility where past underground nuclear tests took place. Experts say the U.S. could resume testing there within months if ordered to do so. China last tested a nuclear weapon in 1996. Russia’s recent experiments have involved delivery systems, not actual nuclear detonations. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said the move was necessary to “keep up” with other countries.

“We don’t do testing. We halted it many years ago,” Trump said. “But with others doing testing, I think it’s appropriate that we do also.”

He added that the decision was “about reaching parity” with Moscow and Beijing. “The United States has more Nuclear Weapons than any other country,” Trump said. “Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within five years.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded cautiously to Trump’s announcement. “Until now, we were not aware that anyone was testing anything,” he said, referencing the long-standing global moratorium on nuclear testing. He warned that Russia could reconsider its position if the United States abandons the ban. “If someone abandons the moratorium, Russia will act accordingly,” Peskov said.

Peskov also denied that Moscow’s recent cruise missile tests involved nuclear detonations, calling them “defensive system developments.” China has not yet issued an official response. However, Beijing has previously rejected U.S. calls to join nuclear arms reduction talks, calling them “neither reasonable nor realistic.”

Trump’s announcement drew swift backlash from Democratic lawmakers, especially from Nevada, where any new nuclear testing would likely occur. Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., said the move “directly contradicts” previous commitments made by Trump administration officials who assured Congress that nuclear testing was unnecessary. “I’ll fight to stop this,” Rosen said on X, formerly Twitter.

Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., also criticized the decision, vowing to introduce legislation to block nuclear testing. “This is dangerous and reckless,” she said.

Earlier this year, the Nevada Legislature passed a resolution urging the federal government to maintain its moratorium on nuclear tests. Trump’s order follows recent moves by Russia and China to modernize their nuclear arsenals. Moscow announced the test of a new nuclear-powered underwater weapon this week, while Beijing continues to expand its warhead stockpile.

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons estimates that Russia holds 5,449 nuclear warheads, compared with 5,277 for the United States. Together, they control about 90% of the world’s nuclear weapons. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimates China has around 600 nuclear warheads, gaining roughly 100 per year since 2023.

During his first term, Trump pushed for a major buildup of the U.S. nuclear arsenal, calling for a “tenfold increase.” Yet earlier this year, he described denuclearization as a “big aim,” saying he hoped to see Russia and China reduce their stockpiles.

“We can’t let nuclear weapons proliferate,” Trump said at the time. “We have to stop nuclear weapons.”

His latest announcement marks a sharp departure from that stance. As global leaders watch closely, Trump’s order to resume nuclear testing may mark the beginning of a new chapter in the world’s nuclear history — one that revives Cold War-era fears and reshapes the balance of global power.