Trump’s Nuclear Test Plan Sparks Global Anxiety, Says Rakesh Sood

Ambassador Sood explained that Trump’s order comes amid growing tensions with Russia and China, both of whom are expanding and testing advanced missile systems. The move, he noted, marks a shift back toward Cold War–style brinkmanship. Trump’s directive, given just before his meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping, was likely influenced by Russia’s recent test of a nuclear-powered cruise missile, which has the potential for indefinite flight and stealth capability.

Sood added that while the U.S. had stopped explosive testing in 1992, it continued zero-yield simulations—tests without nuclear explosions. The ambiguity around whether Trump’s resumption refers to full-scale explosive tests or system tests adds uncertainty. For India, which maintains a “No First Use” nuclear policy, this shift complicates its strategic balance and advocacy for global disarmament.

Concluding the discussion, Barkha Dutt noted that Trump’s unpredictable decisions are reshaping global nuclear policy, pushing nations to re-evaluate their security strategies in an increasingly unstable world order.