US Resumes Nuclear Weapon Testing

The President of the United States has ordered the resumption of nuclear weapon testing after a gap of 33 years, the last test being in 1992. This decision marks a significant shift in global nuclear policy and has far-reaching implications for geopolitics, the environment, and international security.

Status of Global Nuclear Weapon Testing

Origins and Early History

The nuclear era began in 1945 with the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States, which ended World War II. The Soviet Union conducted its first nuclear test in 1949, which intensified Cold War tensions.

Frequency of Nuclear Testing

From 1945 to 1996, over 2,000 nuclear tests were conducted worldwide. India and Pakistan conducted nuclear tests in 1998, while North Korea carried out six tests between 2006 and 2017. The United States last tested in 1992, China and France in 1996, and the Soviet Union in 1990. Russia, inheriting the Soviet arsenal, has not conducted any tests since then.

Reasons for Halting Tests

Nuclear tests conducted by both Western and Eastern powers caused radiation exposure, land contamination, and long-term health and environmental damage. To curb such hazards and tensions, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) was adopted in 1996. Russia ratified the CTBT in 2000 but revoked it in 2023, while the United States has signed the treaty but not ratified it.

Drivers for Resumption

Resumption of nuclear tests allows nations to confirm the effectiveness of existing and new weapons. It can also serve as a strategic signal to rival countries.

Implications of US Nuclear Weapon Testing

Geopolitical Implications

The resumption of US nuclear tests could prompt Russia, China, and other nuclear powers to resume their own tests, potentially triggering a new global arms race. It may encourage Pakistan, North Korea, or Iran to expand or test their nuclear arsenals, creating regional instability. India may also feel pressured to revisit its strategic doctrines, particularly in relation to China and Pakistan. Nuclear tests also allow real-world validation of advanced warheads and delivery systems beyond computer simulations.

Diplomatic Implications

Resuming nuclear testing undermines the CTBT, which represents a long-standing global norm. Such action could erode trust in disarmament efforts and the objectives of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). It also signals a preference for military deterrence over diplomatic engagement.

Environmental Implications

Nuclear tests release radioactive materials, such as Caesium-137 and Strontium-90, into the atmosphere, contaminating air, water, and soil. These radioactive materials increase the risk of cancer, genetic mutations, and birth defects in nearby populations.

Impact on Global Disarmament Goals

Resuming nuclear tests undermines the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and weakens global commitment to non-proliferation treaties, including the NPT and CTBT.

Ethical Concerns

Nuclear testing disproportionately harms vulnerable communities, violates principles of justice and non-maleficence, and contradicts the spirit of global peace and disarmament efforts.

Key Nuclear Arms Control Treaties

1. Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT, 1968)
   The NPT aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, promote disarmament, and encourage peaceful uses of nuclear energy. It recognizes five nuclear-weapon states: the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and China. India is not a member.

2. Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT, 1996)
   The CTBT bans all nuclear explosions for testing purposes, though it has not entered into force. India has not signed the treaty.

3. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW, 2017)
   The TPNW prohibits the use, possession, testing, and transfer of nuclear weapons under international law.

India’s Stand on Nuclear Weapons

Nuclear Testing

India maintains a voluntary moratorium on nuclear testing but does not make it legally binding.

No First Use (NFU) Policy

India adheres to a No First Use policy, reaffirmed in its 2003 Nuclear Doctrine, maintaining credible minimum deterrence.

Commitment to Non-Proliferation

Although India is not a signatory to the NPT, it upholds its non-proliferation objectives.

Peaceful Nuclear Applications

India promotes the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, including power generation, medicine, and industry. It is a signatory to the 1994 Convention on Nuclear Safety.

Balancing Civilian and Strategic Needs

India balances its civilian nuclear program with its strategic arsenal. Its three-stage thorium-based program ensures self-reliance in nuclear energy.

Steps to Preserve Nuclear Peace

1. Reinforce Non-Proliferation Instruments
   Verifiable arms limits, such as the New START agreement, should be renewed, and the CTBT should be enforced to prevent arms races.

2. Strengthen Export Controls
   Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) guidelines should be strictly enforced to prevent the spread of weapons-grade materials.

3. Reduce Accidental or Hasty Use
   Command systems should be secured with robust cybersecurity and fail-safes. De-alerting nuclear forces and extending decision timelines can reduce the risk of hasty use.

4. Revive Arms Control Dialogues
   Strategic talks among the US, Russia, and China should be conducted under UN or G20 frameworks to ensure transparency and restraint.

5. Confidence-Building Measures
   Mutual inventories, reciprocal inspections, and freezes on weapon upgrades can help build trust between nuclear powers.

6. Sustained High-Level Diplomacy
   Nuclear risk reduction must remain a global priority, emphasizing dialogue and cooperation over reliance on deterrence.

Conclusion

The resumption of US nuclear tests risks undermining arms-control norms, triggering a new global arms race, causing environmental and public health hazards, weakening non-proliferation efforts, straining diplomatic relations, and increasing economic costs. Careful international dialogue, robust safeguards, and a renewed focus on disarmament are essential to maintain global nuclear peace.