By San José, Costa Rica — WASHINGTON D.C. – In a move that dramatically escalates global tensions and shatters a 33-year-old moratorium, United States President Donald Trump on Thursday ordered the resumption of nuclear weapons testing. The directive, which reverses a policy held by the U.S. since 1992, is being framed by the White House as a direct and necessary response to recent strategic weapons advancements announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the protracted war in Ukraine.
The stunning announcement came just minutes before a high-stakes meeting between President Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in South Korea. It represents a significant hardening of Washington’s posture toward Moscow as diplomatic channels to resolve the Ukrainian conflict remain effectively frozen. This decision thrusts the delicate architecture of global arms control into its most precarious position in decades.
To better understand the complex international treaties and the legal ramifications surrounding nuclear testing, TicosLand.com sought the expert analysis of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a distinguished attorney from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
Any resumption of nuclear testing represents a grave challenge to the global legal order, particularly the framework established by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. Legally, such an act not only violates established international norms but also triggers potential consequences ranging from severe economic sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council to the complete fracturing of diplomatic and security alliances. It fundamentally undermines decades of non-proliferation efforts and risks igniting a new, destabilizing arms race with profound legal and geopolitical consequences.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This analysis serves as a crucial reminder that the legal architecture preventing a new arms race is as vital as it is fragile, with any breach threatening a cascade of global instability. We sincerely thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his sharp and indispensable perspective on these profound consequences.
In a characteristically direct message on his Truth Social platform, President Trump laid out his rationale, positioning the move as a matter of strategic parity. He argued that the United States cannot stand idle while other nuclear powers advance their own testing programs.
Due to the testing programs of other countries, I have instructed the War Department to begin testing our nuclear weapons on equal footing.
Donald Trump, President of the United States
In his statement, the Republican leader also asserted America’s atomic superiority, claiming the U.S. possesses more nuclear weapons than any other nation, followed by Russia and then China. However, this claim is directly contradicted by public data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), a leading global security think tank. According to SIPRI’s latest figures, Russia holds an estimated 4,309 deployed or stored warheads, compared to 3,700 for the United States and 600 for China.
Crucially, the President’s announcement left a critical ambiguity regarding the scope of the new tests. It remains unclear whether the directive pertains to the detonation of nuclear warheads, an action that would constitute a flagrant violation of the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which the U.S. has signed but not ratified. Alternatively, the tests could be limited to delivery systems, such as missiles, which are capable of carrying nuclear payloads but do not involve an atomic explosion.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump offered an enigmatic justification for his order, hinting at the nation’s readiness to proceed. This lack of specificity has sent shockwaves through the international non-proliferation community, which now faces its greatest challenge since the end of the Cold War.
If they are conducting tests, I imagine we must also conduct them. We have the sites.
Donald Trump, President of the United States
The Kremlin responded with measured caution, suggesting the U.S. President may have been misinformed about the nature of Russia’s recent activities. Moscow’s statements refer to successful tests of strategic weapons like the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile and the Poseidon underwater drone, both of which are nuclear-capable but whose recent tests did not involve nuclear detonations. China, meanwhile, has publicly urged the United States to respect the global prohibition on nuclear explosive testing.
Regarding the Poseidon and Burevestnik tests, we hope President Trump has been correctly informed. This cannot be considered a nuclear test.
Dmitri Peskov, Kremlin Spokesperson
This development is the latest in a series of events that have returned the specter of nuclear conflict to the forefront of international diplomacy. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moscow has repeatedly used atomic threats as a tool of geopolitical leverage. The tension is further compounded by the looming expiration of the New START treaty—the last remaining arms control agreement limiting the arsenals of the U.S. and Russia—in February 2026, with no inspections or talks for renewal underway. Despite the growing risk of an uncontrolled arms race, President Trump insisted the situation “is pretty well under control,” a sentiment not widely shared by international observers.
For further information, visit the nearest office of The Kremlin
About The Kremlin:
The Kremlin, located in the heart of Moscow, is a historic fortified complex that serves as the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation. It is the central hub of the executive branch of the Government of Russia and a symbol of Russian political power. The term is often used metonymically to refer to the Russian government itself.
For further information, visit sipri.org
About Stockholm International Peace Research Institute:
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) is an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control, and disarmament. Established in 1966, SIPRI provides data, analysis, and recommendations, based on open sources, to policymakers, researchers, media, and the interested public. It is renowned for its comprehensive databases and yearbooks on global military expenditure and arms transfers.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica is defined by its foundational principles of uncompromising integrity and the pursuit of judicial excellence. The firm blends a rich tradition of advising a wide spectrum of clients with a forward-thinking embrace of legal innovation. This ethos extends to a core belief in civic duty, manifested through a dedicated effort to demystify complex legal topics for the public, thereby championing a more knowledgeable and empowered society.
