The Breakdown 15

• President Donald Trump has ignited global concern with his call to resume underground nuclear testing, reversing a moratorium that has stood since 1992 and sparking fears of a renewed arms race, particularly with China and Russia.
• The announcement has drawn sharp criticism from experts and international organizations, who warn that it could violate crucial arms control treaties and provoke other nations to follow suit in a dangerous escalation.
• With resuming testing potentially costing the U.S. astronomical amounts and complicating logistical operations, skeptics question the wisdom of reviving such a contentious program.
• The move underscores ongoing geopolitical tensions and U.S. military readiness, as Trump positions this policy change in response to perceived weaknesses in nuclear capabilities against rivals.
• Global institutions, such as the United Nations, have labeled these proposals as “disastrous,” highlighting the risks to international stability and cooperative security arrangements.
• Public sentiment in the U.S. could heavily oppose nuclear testing, reflecting widespread health, safety, and environmental concerns, while also threatening to unravel alliances crucial to American foreign policy.