Trump asks Pentagon to immediately resume testing nuclear weapons

He says it is necessary to keep up with rivals; Russia and China criticise move

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The US Navy firing an unarmed Trident nuclear-capable missile from an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine off the coast of San Diego in 2020. No nuclear power, other than North Korea, has carried out explosive nuclear testing in more than 25 years.

(PHOTO: REUTERS)

US President Donald Trump, ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Oct 30, said he had instructed the Department of Defence to immediately resume testing nuclear weapons on an "equal basis" with other nuclear powers.

"Because of other countries testing programmes, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our nuclear weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately," Mr Trump said on Truth Social, ahead of the meeting with Mr Xi in South Korea.

"Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within five years," the US President noted.

A senior Russian lawmaker said Mr Trump's decision would herald a new era of unpredictability and open confrontation, state news agency RIA reported.