US Energy Secretary Confirms No Nuclear Explosions Planned Amid Weapons Testing

President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to resume testing of U.S. nuclear weapons, prompting widespread confusion about whether this meant nuclear detonations would be conducted again. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright clarified that the tests planned under Trump's directive are "system tests" involving non-nuclear, subcritical explosions that check the components and delivery systems of nuclear weapons without causing nuclear blasts. These tests are routine and help ensure the reliability and effectiveness of the nuclear arsenal without violating the decades-old moratorium on nuclear explosive testing, which has been in place since 1992. Trump’s announcement, made shortly before a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, appeared to signal a response to Russia and China’s recent nuclear-capable weapons tests, although the U.S. maintains it will not conduct actual nuclear explosions at this time. The clarification from the Energy Secretary aims to reassure both domestic and international audiences that the U.S. is not resuming nuclear detonations, but continuing to maintain its nuclear deterrent through advanced non-explosive testing. The policy remains a critical facet of U.S. nuclear strategy amid growing global nuclear tensions.