President Donald Trump has directed the Pentagon to “immediately” begin testing U.S. nuclear weapons, according to a post on his Truth Social platform on October 29th. The announcement signals a potential shift in U.S. nuclear policy and comes amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Trump’s post detailed that progress has been made on the matter, though specifics were not provided. The directive, if carried out, would represent a departure from a decades-long moratorium on nuclear weapons testing by the United States. The last such test occurred in Nevada in 1992.

The United States, along with Russia, China, Great Britain, France, and Israel, are the only countries recognized as possessing nuclear weapons. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which the U.S. signed but never ratified, aims to ban all nuclear weapon test explosions. Resuming testing could have significant international ramifications, potentially triggering a new arms race and straining relations with allies.

The post did not elaborate on the scope or nature of the proposed testing, nor did it specify which facilities might be involved. The Pentagon has not yet issued a statement confirming the directive or outlining potential next steps. Further details are expected as the situation develops. Trump’s previous statements regarding nuclear weapons have often been controversial, and this latest announcement is likely to draw scrutiny from experts and policymakers alike.