Donald Trump has announced America will begin testing nuclear weapons in a direct challenge to Vladimir Putin.
The President revealed his Department of War will begin with immediate effect the testing on an “equal basis” in response to other countries’ testing programmes.
Last weekend, Moscow tested a new “invincible” nuclear weapon which has an unlimited range and unpredictable flight path.
Then, on Wednesday, Mr Putin announced the successful test of a nuclear torpedo which has described as impossible to intercept.
Mr Trump said: “The United States has more nuclear weapons than any other country.
“This was accomplished, including a complete update and renovation of existing weapons, during my first term in office.
“Because of the tremendous destructive power, I hated to do it, but had no choice. Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within five years.
“Because of other countries’ testing programmes, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our nuclear weapons on an equal basis.
The President is expected to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday
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REUTERS
“That process will begin immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Tensions between Russia and the US have been growing after continued disagreements over the war in Ukraine.
Despite Mr Trump toughening both his rhetoric and his stance on Russia, Mr Putin has continued to publicly flex the strength of his nuclear weapons.
In comparison, the last time the US tested a nuclear weapon was in 1992.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the successful test of a nuclear-capable Poseidon torpedo
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REUTERSTests are used to provide evidence on what new weapons will do, and whether old weapons still work.
However, while the tests will provide data for the US, for Russia and China it will be seen as a deliberate assertion of US strategic power.
The President met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday.
Reacting to the story, Republicans Overseas UK chairman Greg Swenson told GB News: “If the President is punched, he punches back.
Donald Trump has announced America will begin testing nuclear weapons | US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY“The Russians, the Chinese and the North Koreans have been breaking all of the rules. They’ve been violating these treaties for generations now.
“In fact, President Trump in his first term dropped out of a medium term nuclear arms deal that we had with the Soviet Union originally.
“This just proves, again, that he is willing to fight back.”
America started the nuclear era in July 1945 when the 20-kilatonne atomic bomb was tested at Alamogordo in New Mexico.
Mapped: Estimated global nuclear warhead stockpiles
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GB NEWS
It then dropped bombs on the two Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 to end World War Two.
This remains the only time nuclear weapons have ever been used in combat.
Nine countries in the world have nuclear stockpiles including Russia, which has the most nuclear warheads with 4,309 and North Korea, which has the least with 50.
