Kuala lumpur: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday defended President Donald Trump's surprise directive to restart nuclear weapons testing, saying a resumption would make nuclear conflict "less likely." Hegseth made the remarks during a press availability on the margins of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus, following Trump's directive announcement.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Hegseth emphasized the necessity of maintaining a credible nuclear deterrent, highlighting that collaboration with the Department of Energy would be essential. He stated that resuming testing is a responsible approach to ensuring the reliability of the U.S. nuclear arsenal. Hegseth reiterated that this directive is crucial for understanding and verifying the operational status of the nuclear stockpile.
Hegseth further stated that the testing aims to ensure the United States possesses the "strongest, most capable nuclear arsenal" as a means to maintain peace through strength. He clarified that the U.S. does not seek conflict with China or any other nation, but emphasized that a strong U.S. military and robust alliances would reduce the likelihood of conflict.
In a social media post this week, Trump instructed the Pentagon to resume nuclear weapons testing after a 33-year suspension. He cited the nuclear capabilities of China and Russia as reasons for this decision, which has raised concerns about a potential new nuclear arms race.