U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has claimed that the Pentagon is moving “quickly” on President Donald Trump’s directive to restart nuclear weapons testing to ensure the U.S. has the “most capable” nuclear arsenal in the world. Hegseth said Oct. 31, during his meeting with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn, that the Department of Defense will work with the Department of Energy on nuclear testing, and added that Trump has been “clear” that the U.S. needs to have a “credible nuclear deterrent.”
“That is the baseline of our deterrence, and so having understanding and resuming testing is a pretty responsible, very responsible, way to do that. I think it makes nuclear conflict less likely if you know what you have and make sure it operates properly,” he said, reported The Hill. “So it’s the right directive. We’re moving out quickly, and America will ensure that we have the strongest, most capable nuclear arsenal, so that we maintain peace through strength.”
Still not explained is what requirements and objectives are to be met by a resumption of testing, nor has any case been made that there are requirements and objectives that can only be met by nuclear explosive testing. That the arsenal is aging is used by proponents of testing as a justification, but the National Nuclear Security Administration, the agency responsible for manufacturing and maintaining nuclear warheads, has or has had five programs to refurbish existing warheads, all being accomplished without nuclear explosive testing.
