Washington DC [US]: US President Donald Trump has claimed that Pakistan is among the nations currently “testing” nuclear weapons — a revelation he made while defending Washington’s decision to resume its own nuclear tests after more than three decades.
In an interview with CBS News’s 60 Minutes on Sunday, Trump alleged that several countries, including Russia, China, North Korea, and Pakistan, are conducting nuclear tests, while the United States remains the only major power refraining from doing so.
“Russia’s testing, China’s testing — but they don’t talk about it. We’re an open society, so we have to,” Trump said. “We’re going to test because they test — and certainly North Korea’s been testing. Pakistan’s been testing,” he added.
Trump made the remarks when asked about his decision to resume nuclear detonations following reports of Russia’s recent trials of advanced nuclear-capable systems, including the Poseidon underwater drone.
“You have to see how they work,” Trump said. “Russia announced they’re going to test. North Korea tests constantly. Other countries test. We’re the only country that doesn’t, and I don’t want to be the only one that doesn’t.”
The former president went on to assert that the United States has “more nuclear weapons than any other country,” adding that he had discussed denuclearisation efforts with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“We have enough nuclear weapons to blow up the world 150 times,” Trump claimed. “Russia has a lot, and China will have plenty soon.”
Earlier on Thursday, Trump had formally announced the immediate resumption of US nuclear testing, calling it “appropriate” given Russia’s continued weapons trials. Speaking before boarding Air Force One, he said denuclearisation would be “a tremendous thing,” but that Washington could not afford to remain idle while others tested their arsenals.
“They all seem to be testing,” Trump told reporters. “We have more nuclear weapons than anybody. We don’t do testing — but with others doing it, I think it’s appropriate that we do also.”
He confirmed that preparations for testing were underway, though he declined to reveal details on timing or location. When asked if renewed testing could heighten global tensions, Trump replied, “I think we have it pretty well locked up.”
Meanwhile, in a separate move, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law terminating a dormant plutonium disposal agreement with the US — a 2000 accord that required both countries to eliminate 34 tonnes of weapons-grade plutonium once intended for nuclear arms.
