The United Nations took a swipe at President Donald Trump for saying the United States will start “testing our nuclear weapons,” a move that provoked global uncertainty and international outcry.
“We shouldn’t forget the disastrous legacy of over 2,000 nuclear-weapons tests that have been carried out over the last 80 years,” U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters on Thursday.
The U.N. and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres believe “nuclear testing can never be permitted under any circumstances,” he added.
Trump called for the resumption of nuclear testing in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, saying it was warranted in response to nuclear threats from China and Russia.
TRUMP SAYS HE WANTS TO RESTART NUCLEAR TESTING. HERE’S WHAT THAT MEANS
It was unclear if Trump was referring to the testing of platforms that could deliver a nuclear weapon, which is standard practice, or to the explosive testing of nuclear weapons, which would mark a break with decadeslong precedent. The U.N. appeared to interpret Trump’s remarks to mean the latter.
The White House would not definitively confirm if Trump was referring to the standard testing, while suggesting that scenario was “potentially” the case in comments to ABC News.
In his Truth Social post, Trump said, “Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately.”
The president issued the statement shortly before meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The meeting appeared to go smoothly after the pair conversed for roughly 1.5 hours. China agreed to a rare earth minerals deal and to resume purchasing U.S. soybeans, according to the Trump administration, de-escalating a protracted trade war.
Trump also referenced Russia in his move to resume nuclear testing.
“It had to do with others — they seemed to all be nuclear testing. We have more nuclear weapons than anybody. We don’t do testing. We halted it many years ago, but with others doing testing, I think it’s appropriate that we do also,” he told reporters on Air Force One.
Moscow provoked criticism from Trump earlier this week after acknowledging it tested a nuclear-powered and capable cruise missile that can carry a nuclear warhead nearly 9,000 miles without being stopped by air defenses. Russia said the Burevestnik could, in theory, target anywhere in the U.S., with Russian President Vladimir Putin describing it as “a unique weapon that no other country possesses.” On Wednesday, Putin also announced Moscow tested a nuclear-powered underwater drone called the Poseidon, hailing the vehicle’s “speed and power.”
Still, Russia distinguished its exercises from the explosive testing of nuclear weapons, suggesting Trump’s latest move for new “testing” came due to misinformation about Moscow’s activity.
The recent weapons drills were routine and “cannot in any way be interpreted as a nuclear test,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. “We hope that the information was conveyed correctly to President Trump.”
“If someone deviates from the moratorium, Russia will act accordingly,” he added, referencing the 33-year break on nuclear testing since 1992.
Trump said on Air Force One this week that he does not believe resuming U.S. nuclear tests would make the global environment more dangerous.
“I don’t think so. I think we have it pretty well locked up,” he said. “But we have more than anybody, and I see them testing. I say, well, they’re testing, we have to test too. I’d like to see a deneutralization … because we have so many. Russia’s second and China’s third. China will catch up within four or five years. I think de-escalation, or denuclearization, would be tremendous. We’re actually talking to Russia about that, and China would be added to that if we do something.”
