In a significant development, the Trump administration has reportedly held discussions over conducting nuclear tests as a potential warning to Russia and China. The move becomes interesting as US is seeking a trilateral deal with Russia and China to regulate the arsenals of the biggest nuclear powers.
The discussion over nuclear tests was held at a meeting of senior officials representing the top national security agencies on May 15, Washington Post reported citing one senior administration official and two former officials.
US mulls first nuclear tests since 1992 | 5 points
1. The United States has not conducted a nuclear test explosion since September 1992.
2. The discussion over fresh nuclear tests was held after Trump administration officials alleged that Russia and China are conducting low-yield nuclear tests though it has not been substantiated.
3. The Washington Post quoted Trump administration officials as saying that demonstrating to Moscow and Beijing that the United States could “rapid test” could prove useful from a negotiating standpoint as Washington seeks a trilateral deal (US, China and Russia) to regulate the arsenals of the biggest nuclear powers.
4. The report said that though the meeting did not conclude with any agreement to conduct a test but quoted a senior administration official as saying that the proposal is “very much an ongoing conversation.”
5. However, the report quoted another official saying that it was finally decided to take other measures in response to threats posed by Russia and China and avoid a resumption of testing.
