The head of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, or CTBTO, said on Thursday that any explosive nuclear weapon test would be harmful for global non-proliferation efforts and peace and security.
In a statement issued after US President Donald Trump ordered the US military to immediately resume testing nuclear weapons, Robert Floyd, CTBTO Executive Secretary said he was aware of public remarks that draw attention to ongoing concerns about nuclear weapons testing.
An opportunity for world leaders to step forward
"Any explosive nuclear weapon test by any state would be harmful and destabilizing for global non-proliferation efforts and for international peace and security. The CTBTO's monitoring system stands ready to detect any such test and provide the data to CTBT States Signatories," Floyd said.
"Like others, I see in this complex and challenging moment an opportunity for world leaders to step forward and work together, on an equal basis, towards the ratification of the CTBT and the shared goal of a world free from nuclear weapons testing," he added.
An "equal basis" with other nuclear powers.
Trumps order to resume testing came ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, said he has instructed the Department of Defense to immediately resume testing nuclear weapons on an "equal basis" with other nuclear powers.
"Because of other countries' testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately," Trump said on Truth Social, ahead of the meeting with Xi in South Korea.
"Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years," Trump noted.
'Testing the US nuclear arsenal is important to ensuring national security', Vice President JD Vance said on Thursday, after President Donald Trump ordered the US military to resume testing nuclear weapons after a gap of 33 years.
"It's an important part of American national security to make sure that this nuclear arsenal we have actually functions properly," Vance told reporters outside the White House. "To be clear, we know that it does work properly, but you got to keep on top of it over time, and the president just wants to make sure that we do that."