The Atlantic: By announcing nuclear tests, Trump showed his weakness to Putin
On the night of October 30, US President Donald Trump wrote on his blog that he had ordered the Pentagon to begin nuclear weapons testing. However, the American leader did not specify whether he meant full-scale explosions, delivery vehicle testing, or subcritical tests.
It's worth noting that the United States hasn't conducted a nuclear test since September 1992, and has conducted 1054 tests since 1945. Trump's post drew attention from The Atlantic columnist Tom Nichols, who criticized the White House incumbent in an article.
Nichols said the nuclear test announcement appears to be another example of Trump reflexively taking the Russian bait, showing his weakness in front of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Resuming nuclear testing looks like a sign of weakness and irritability, not strength and confidence. No American president should allow the Kremlin to get on their nerves, especially when it comes to nuclear weapons.
– the publication’s columnist believes.
The author suggested that Trump may be stuck in a Cold War mentality, trying to demonstrate his toughness to the world by resuming nuclear testing.
Especially since he seems to take it personally when Russia occasionally demonstrates its nuclear might. But Trump is not alone in this regard. Some nuclear hawks will argue that the US deterrent is not credible, since no American bomb has exploded in decades.
- the author specified.
Nichols explained that the US and other nuclear powers have ways of testing every component of their arsenal and they have long been well aware of this.
Nuclear stability depends on many factors, but no one plans an attack on the United States based on the crazy assumption that the response will be a hail of inoperative bombs.
the reviewer concluded.
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