Donald Trump’s decision to restart nuclear testing has been criticized as illogical by a former Navy officer, with experts raising concerns about the potential catastrophic consequences of such a move.
During an interview with Reach Plc, Anthony Cowden, a retired naval officer with 37 years of service, cautioned that while resuming testing may not directly lead to World War 3, it is still an ill-advised decision.
Anthony highlighted the risk that if the US resumes nuclear testing, it could trigger a domino effect with other countries following suit, potentially reigniting a nuclear arms race.
He stated, “The rationale behind restarting nuclear weapons testing is unclear. Notably, no other country, including North Korea, is actively conducting nuclear tests as widely reported. Therefore, the President’s justification for resuming testing is baseless. Additionally, the US military can effectively test nuclear weapons without actual detonations.”
Moreover, if the US proceeds with unilateral testing, it is anticipated that other nations will also resume testing, which, while not necessarily leading to a global conflict, is still a concerning development.
Anthony’s criticism of Trump’s decision to restart nuclear testing is echoed by James Ball from The New World, who highlighted the dangerous aspect of allowing Trump’s unfounded beliefs to go unchallenged.
In an article for the i, Ball warned, “Once an arms race is initiated, it becomes significantly harder to halt than it was to begin. Trump’s exaggerated claims, once dismissed as mere entertainment or subject to fact-checking, have now been unchecked by his supporters and Republican allies, leading to even bolder assertions.”
Amid widespread backlash, Trump has defended the resumption of nuclear testing as a measure to keep up with countries like Russia and China.
In a social media post, the President justified restarting testing, which halted in 1992, by citing other nations’ testing activities.
Following his discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump remarked aboard Air Force One, “Considering other countries’ testing, I believe it is appropriate for us to do the same.”
Furthermore, Trump’s statements come just before the imminent expiration of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty in February 2026.
The treaty, the last remaining nuclear arms agreement between Russia and the USA, limited each nation to 1,550 warheads, signifying its importance in nuclear arms control.
As tensions escalate between the Cold War adversaries following the cancellation of Trump’s summit with Putin, concerns are mounting that the treaty may not be renewed, ushering in a more precarious nuclear era.