Washington, D.C.: The United States will resume nuclear testing after a 33‑year pause, President Donald Trump announced on Friday. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said the move aligns America’s defence strategy with “other nuclear nations.”
While Trump declined to specify whether the tests will involve live warhead detonations, he confirmed that orders were issued to restart testing procedures last month. The decision marks the first such directive since 1992. This follows his comments made on Truth Social regarding “maintaining America’s nuclear readiness.”
According to administration officials, the renewed testing is part of a broader strategy to modernise U.S. deterrence capabilities amid escalating global tensions. Defence experts warn that resuming testing could trigger a renewed arms race. This may happen if other nuclear powers react in kind.
F‑35 Fighter Jet Deal with Saudi Arabia
Trump also stated he is reviewing a proposal to sell F‑35 stealth fighter jets, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, to Saudi Arabia. Speaking to reporters, he said the Kingdom has expressed a strong interest in acquiring “a large fleet of F‑35s.”
The potential sale is expected to be discussed during next week’s White House meeting between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The meeting could also include the signing of additional economic and defence cooperation agreements.
Read: Trump Claims Pakistan, China, Russia are “Testing” Nuclear Weapons
A report from Bloomberg indicated that discussions between U.S. defense officials and Saudi representatives are “at an advanced stage.” However, a Pentagon intelligence assessment reportedly warns that technology transfer risks could arise if the sale proceeds. This is because of potential exposure to Chinese systems.
In a separate development, Trump announced that his legal team intends to sue the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) over a 2024 documentary aired on its Panorama program. The film allegedly misrepresented Trump’s January 6, 2021 speech by editing segments that appeared to incite violence at the U.S. Capitol.
Read: Putin Orders to Draft Proposals for Possible Nuclear Weapons Tests
The BBC has since issued a partial apology, acknowledging the misleading edit but maintaining there is no basis for defamation. Trump’s legal representatives are demanding up to $1 billion in damages. They describe the impact as “severe reputational and financial harm.”
A BBC spokesperson reiterated that while the broadcaster regrets the editing oversight, it “strongly disagrees that defamation occurred.” The corporation has not yet confirmed whether further corrective action will be taken.
