Senator Markey Urges Trump Not to Restart Nuclear Weapons Tests, Citing Global Arms Race Risk with Russia & China

Senator Markey Urges Trump: Halt Nuclear Weapons Test Resumption

Democratic Senator Edward Markey has issued a strong warning to President Donald Trump, urging him to reconsider his directive to resume explosive nuclear weapons testing. Markey emphasized that such a move by the United States, after a 33-year hiatus, could trigger a dangerous escalation, providing Russia and China with a justification to conduct their own large-scale nuclear tests.

Trump's Stance and International Reaction

President Trump had announced in late October his intention to restart the nuclear testing process, a decision that caused some bureaucratic confusion as the National Nuclear Security Administration, not the Pentagon, typically oversees such operations. Trump's reasoning for this resumption has been vague, stating only that the U.S. would test "like other countries do." This assertion was echoed by CIA Director John Ratcliffe.

In a letter addressed to the President on November 25, Senator Markey, a co-chair of the influential Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group, highlighted the perilous implications. He argued that even a single small U.S. nuclear test would effectively greenlight numerous, more substantial tests by rival powers. These tests, Markey warned, could significantly advance the development of new nuclear weapons, directly threatening U.S. national security. Markey, a long-standing advocate for non-proliferation, had previously cautioned Trump against similar actions during his first presidential term in 2020.

Allegations of Secret Testing and Unanswered Questions

The international community has already shown signs of unease. In response to Trump's suggestions, Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly directed his officials to explore options for potential nuclear weapons tests, a practice Moscow has refrained from since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Trump has also insinuated that Russia and China might already be conducting undetectable "hydronuclear tests," violating the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and existing U.S. policy. While Markey acknowledged "reports of such tests from 2019" as concerning, he underscored their unconfirmed nature and stated unequivocally that even if true, they would not warrant a renewed U.S. testing program. He has requested concrete evidence from the President by December 15 to support these claims, and also questioned whether Trump's statements might stem from a misunderstanding between missile tests and actual nuclear explosive tests. The White House has yet to issue a response to Markey's concerns.