WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the immediate resumption of nuclear weapons testing by the U.S. Department of War, ending a 33-year moratorium established in 1992.

The announcement came on Thursday, just before his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.

Trump justified the dramatic policy reversal by citing the testing programs and expanding arsenals of Russia and China.

The U.S. president claimed he had no choice but to match their capabilities and update their arsenal, specifically noting that China’s nuclear capacity is projected to reach parity within five years.

The decision arrives roughly 100 days before the New START arms treaty between the US and Russia expires in February 2026.