The world appears to be entering a new and dangerous phase of nuclear brinkmanship, as Donald Trump orders the first U.S. nuclear tests since 1992, in response to Vladimir Putin’s unveiling of Russia’s latest “invincible” strategic weapons — the Poseidon underwater nuclear drone and the Sarmat (Satan 2) intercontinental ballistic missile.
Putin, during a visit to a Moscow military hospital, boasted that Russia’s new nuclear-powered Poseidon torpedo “cannot be intercepted” and has a range of up to 9,600 kilometers, enough to strike the U.S. coastline. He added that it “exceeds the power of any existing intercontinental missile” and is “unique in the world.”
Only hours later, President Trump took to Truth Social, announcing that he had instructed the Department of Defense to resume nuclear weapons testing. “Due to testing programs by other nations, I have ordered that the United States begin our own nuclear tests on an equal basis,” Trump wrote.
His announcement came amid heightened geopolitical tension and just days before his scheduled meeting with China’s Xi Jinping in South Korea. The White House clarified that the decision “was not about China,” but “about others” — a clear reference to Russia.
In recent weeks, Putin has showcased multiple new nuclear systems, including the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile, capable, according to Moscow, of flying indefinitely thanks to its nuclear propulsion. Western analysts have questioned both the safety and practicality of such weapons but acknowledge the Kremlin’s intent to use them as leverage in global diplomacy.
Both Washington and Moscow remain formally bound by the New START Treaty — the last remaining nuclear arms control agreement between the two powers — which expires in February 2026. With the renewed testing race, its future now hangs by a thread.
Trump’s move marks a dramatic shift from deterrence to demonstration, echoing the Cold War era, when nuclear displays served as both warning and provocation. The escalation signals a return to a perilous world order where military pride and personal rivalry risk plunging humanity into another atomic age.
