United States Non-Explosive Nuclear Tests

Donald Trump ordered new tests of the United States nuclear weapons system, initially causing confusion about whether these would involve nuclear explosions. Chris Wright, the United States Energy Secretary, clarified that the planned tests are 'non-critical explosions' or 'system tests' designed to ensure the functionality of nuclear weapon components without actual detonations. This announcement came shortly before Donald Trump's meeting with Xi Jinping in South Korea and followed Russia's announcement of testing new nuclear-capable delivery vehicles. Russia responded to Donald Trump's comments by emphasizing its adherence to the global ban on nuclear testing and warned that it would resume testing if the United States were to do so, raising concerns about a potential restart of Cold War-era tensions. The United States has not detonated nuclear weapons since 1992 and is a signatory to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, though it has not ratified it.