Donald Trump’s Big Claim: Pakistan Conducting Nuclear Tests
Former US President Donald Trump has confirmed that the United States will resume nuclear weapons testing after more than 30 years, citing similar actions by Russia, China, North Korea, and Pakistan.
In an interview with CBS News's 60 Minutes on Sunday, Trump claimed that several nations are secretly conducting nuclear tests while the US remains the only country refraining from doing so.
"Russia's testing and China's testing, but they don't talk about it. We're an open society. We're different. We talk about it. We have to talk about it because otherwise you people are going to report. They don't have reporters that are going to be writing about it," Trump said.
"We're going to test because they test and others test. And certainly North Korea's been testing. Pakistan's been testing," he added.
When asked about his decision to restart nuclear detonations after decades, Trump explained, "You have to see how they work. The reason I'm saying testing is because Russia announced that they were going to be doing a test. If you notice, North Korea is testing constantly. Other countries are testing. We're the only country that doesn't test. And I don't want to be the only country that doesn't test."
He further stated, "We're going to test nuclear weapons like other countries do."
Trump also claimed that the US holds "more nuclear weapons than any other country" and revealed that he had discussed denuclearisation with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
"We have enough nuclear weapons to blow up the world 150 times," Trump said. "Russia has a lot of nuclear weapons and China will have a lot. They have some. They have quite a bit."
Last Thursday, Trump had announced the immediate resumption of nuclear testing, calling it an "appropriate" move following Russia's trials of advanced nuclear-capable systems.
Before boarding Air Force One, he told reporters, "They seem to all be nuclear testing. We have more nuclear weapons than anybody. We don't do testing... but with others doing testing, I think it's appropriate that we do also."
Trump added that preparations for testing were already underway, though he did not specify when or where they would take place. When asked if renewed testing could make the global nuclear landscape more volatile, he replied, "I think we have it pretty well locked up."
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently signed a law ending the already defunct plutonium disposal agreement with the US, which had aimed to limit weapons-grade plutonium production. The 2000 pact required both nations to dispose of 34 tonnes of surplus plutonium once intended for military use.
In an interview with CBS News's 60 Minutes on Sunday, Trump claimed that several nations are secretly conducting nuclear tests while the US remains the only country refraining from doing so.
"Russia's testing and China's testing, but they don't talk about it. We're an open society. We're different. We talk about it. We have to talk about it because otherwise you people are going to report. They don't have reporters that are going to be writing about it," Trump said.
"We're going to test because they test and others test. And certainly North Korea's been testing. Pakistan's been testing," he added.
When asked about his decision to restart nuclear detonations after decades, Trump explained, "You have to see how they work. The reason I'm saying testing is because Russia announced that they were going to be doing a test. If you notice, North Korea is testing constantly. Other countries are testing. We're the only country that doesn't test. And I don't want to be the only country that doesn't test."
He further stated, "We're going to test nuclear weapons like other countries do."
Trump also claimed that the US holds "more nuclear weapons than any other country" and revealed that he had discussed denuclearisation with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
"We have enough nuclear weapons to blow up the world 150 times," Trump said. "Russia has a lot of nuclear weapons and China will have a lot. They have some. They have quite a bit."
Last Thursday, Trump had announced the immediate resumption of nuclear testing, calling it an "appropriate" move following Russia's trials of advanced nuclear-capable systems.
Before boarding Air Force One, he told reporters, "They seem to all be nuclear testing. We have more nuclear weapons than anybody. We don't do testing... but with others doing testing, I think it's appropriate that we do also."
Trump added that preparations for testing were already underway, though he did not specify when or where they would take place. When asked if renewed testing could make the global nuclear landscape more volatile, he replied, "I think we have it pretty well locked up."
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently signed a law ending the already defunct plutonium disposal agreement with the US, which had aimed to limit weapons-grade plutonium production. The 2000 pact required both nations to dispose of 34 tonnes of surplus plutonium once intended for military use.
Next Story