Trump orders Pentagon to ‘immediately’ start testing nuclear...

Trump orders Pentagon to ‘immediately’ start testing nuclear weapons

Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to immediately begin testing of the US nuclear arsenal on Thursday, hours after Russia announced it had tested a nuclear-capable underwater drone. Mr Trump made the announcement as he travelled to his high-stakes summit with China’s Xi Jinping. “Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis,” Mr Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. “That process will begin immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Mr Trump is on the final day of a week-long trip to Asia. He is due to meet Xi in the South Korean city of Busan on Thursday morning before flying home to Washington. Top of their agenda will be trade tensions, but Xi is also expected to raise regional security questions and push the US to weaken its stance on protection for Taiwan. Hours earlier, Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, announced the successful test of Poseidon. The project was announced in 2018, as part of a package of weapons designed as a deterrent to the West. “There is nothing like this in the world in terms of the speed and the depth of the movement of this unmanned vehicle — and it is unlikely there ever will be,” he said. Poseidon is one of six super-weapons unveiled ahead of the invasion of Ukraine. On Sunday, Putin announced that Russia had tested its nuclear-powered Burevestnik missile, which can also carry nuclear payloads. Mr Trump slammed the test at the time, saying Russia would be better advised to work on peace in Ukraine. On Thursday morning he went further, ordering a new nuclear stance at home. “The United States has more Nuclear Weapons than any other country,” he posted. “This was accomplished, including a complete update and renovation of existing weapons, during my First Term in office. “Because of the tremendous destructive power, I HATED to do it, but had no choice! Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years.”

Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to immediately begin testing of the US nuclear arsenal on Thursday, hours after Russia announced it had tested a nuclear-capable underwater drone.

Mr Trump made the announcement as he travelled to his high-stakes summit with China’s Xi Jinping.

“Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis,” Mr Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.

“That process will begin immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Mr Trump is on the final day of a week-long trip to Asia.

He is due to meet Xi in the South Korean city of Busan on Thursday morning before flying home to Washington.

Top of their agenda will be trade tensions, but Xi is also expected to raise regional security questions and push the US to weaken its stance on protection for Taiwan.

Hours earlier, Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, announced the successful test of Poseidon.

The project was announced in 2018, as part of a package of weapons designed as a deterrent to the West.

“There is nothing like this in the world in terms of the speed and the depth of the movement of this unmanned vehicle — and it is unlikely there ever will be,” he said.

Poseidon is one of six super-weapons unveiled ahead of the invasion of Ukraine.

On Sunday, Putin announced that Russia had tested its nuclear-powered Burevestnik missile, which can also carry nuclear payloads.

Mr Trump slammed the test at the time, saying Russia would be better advised to work on peace in Ukraine.

On Thursday morning he went further, ordering a new nuclear stance at home.

“The United States has more Nuclear Weapons than any other country,” he posted.

“This was accomplished, including a complete update and renovation of existing weapons, during my First Term in office.

“Because of the tremendous destructive power, I HATED to do it, but had no choice! Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years.”