US President Donald Trump has ordered a surprise nuclear weapons test, raising concerns about rising global tensions between the world's superpowers.
The order was announced via his Truth Social account yesterday, ahead of a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping scheduled to take place in South Korea.
Trump explained that since several other countries have conducted their own nuclear tests, he has also ordered the Department of Defense to restart nuclear weapons testing on the basis of 'equality'.
The announcement raised various questions about whether he was referring to testing weapons systems alone or was actually planning to carry out a nuclear test explosion, something the US has not done since 1992.
When met by reporters on Air Force One, Trump said it had been a long time since the US conducted a nuclear test, but he thought it was appropriate to start it again.
Trump also claimed that the US now has more nuclear weapons than any other country and that this achievement supposedly occurred during his first term as president, but this claim is inaccurate according to defense experts.
The move has also raised concerns among US arch-enemies, particularly Iran, who have criticised the order as 'irresponsible.'
US Vice President JD Vance said nuclear tests were necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the country's defences, but he did not elaborate on the type of tests Trump had ordered, adding that the president's announcement was sufficient.
Vance also stressed that the move was an important part of the US security strategy to ensure the country's nuclear weapons stockpile was functioning properly and was a key component of the defence testing regime.
The announcement came just days after Russia announced it had tested nuclear-powered missiles and sea-based drones.
According to the latest annual report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Russia has 5,489 nuclear warheads, followed by the US with 5,177, while China has around 600 warheads.
