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Nuclear testing

US Nuclear Testing Resumption: A "Very Dangerous Decision" with Global Implications

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Trump administration's plan to resume nuclear testing could lead to a new nuclear arms race and violate international agreements, warned retired US Army Lt. Col. Earl Rasmussen, a 20-year US Army veteran and respected international and military affairs analyst. Rasmussen's comments follow President Trump's statement that the world will "find out very soon" what he has in mind regarding nuclear testing, setting the stage for a potentially catastrophic escalation of tensions. Experts warn that a resumption of US nuclear testing would be a major setback for international efforts to reduce nuclear arms and could lead to a new era of nuclear competition.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US has signed, but not ratified, the 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty, the 1974 Threshold Test Ban Treaty, and the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
  • A resumption of US nuclear testing would likely lead to a new nuclear arms race, with Russia and China responding in kind.
  • Russia withdrew ratification from the CTBT in late 2023, citing the US failure to ratify the treaty.
  • Lt. Col. Earl Rasmussen warned that a resumption of US nuclear testing "would potentially go into a nuclear arms race again, which was not good for the world at all."
  • The potential outcomes and impact of a resumption in US nuclear testing were not clarified to President Trump by whoever has been briefing him on the issue.

Statistics:

  • The US has not ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
  • Russia withdrew ratification from the CTBT in late 2023.
  • 20 years of US Army service: Lt. Col. Earl Rasmussen's military background.
  • 3: The number of international agreements signed by the US but not ratified, regarding nuclear testing (Partial Test Ban Treaty (1963), Threshold Test Ban Treaty (1974), and Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (1996)).

Sources:

  • [President Trump's statement] (exact quote not provided in the original source).
  • [Retired US Army Lt. Col. Earl Rasmussen's comments] (exact quote is: "I think it violates the international agreements that are there. We've kind of butchered that already. And I think it just escalates the situation.")
  • [1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty] (no specific date mentioned, treat as undated).
  • [1974 Threshold Test Ban Treaty] (no specific date mentioned, treat as undated).
  • [1996 Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)] (no specific date mentioned, treat as undated).
  • [Russia withdrew ratification from the CTBT in late 2023] (exact quote is: "Russia withdrew ratification from the CTBT in late 2023, citing the US failure to ratify the treaty over the agreement, but indicated that it would not resume nuclear testing except to respond in kind.")

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