Trump's planned tests are 'not nuclear explosions', US energy secretary says

November 3, 2025

President Trump recently announced plans to resume U.S. nuclear weapons testing to match rival nations, sparking international alarm before Energy Secretary Chris Wright clarified that no actual nuclear detonations would occur. Wright explained the tests would be "non-critical explosions" that examine non-nuclear components of weapons rather than full-scale atomic blasts, which the U.S. hasn't conducted since 1992. Both China and Russia have denied Trump's claims that they are actively testing nuclear weapons, with China last testing in 1996 and Russia in 1990.

Who is affected

Residents living near the Nevada National Security Site
Global international community concerned about nuclear proliferation
China, Russia, North Korea, and Pakistan (nations accused of testing)
Countries party to international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation agreements
All nuclear-weapons states (U.S., Russia, China, France, UK, India, Pakistan, Israel, North Korea)

What action is being taken

The U.S. is conducting "non-critical explosions" that test non-nuclear components of nuclear weapons
China and Russia are denying claims that they are conducting nuclear weapons tests
Energy Secretary Chris Wright is publicly clarifying the nature of U.S. testing activities

Why it matters

This matters because nuclear weapons testing has been largely halted globally since the 1990s as part of international efforts to prevent proliferation and maintain strategic stability. Any resumption of full-scale nuclear testing would represent a significant breakdown of decades-long international norms, potentially triggering a new arms race and undermining global non-proliferation agreements. The clarification that tests will be non-critical rather than full detonations helps preserve these international commitments while addressing Trump's stated concerns about maintaining weapons readiness relative to rival powers.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC