President Donald Trump announced plans to resume U.S. nuclear testing “immediately,” potentially reversing a decades-long global agreement against such tests. However, experts caution that actually restarting testing would be a complex and costly undertaking, likely taking years and requiring millions of dollars.

The announcement, made without specific details on how the resumption would be carried out, has drawn immediate reaction from international observers. The current moratorium on nuclear testing has been in place since 2006, with the last U.S. test occurring in 1992. Numerous countries have signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), although it has not entered into force globally, as some nations, including the United States, have not ratified it.

Experts suggest that re-establishing the infrastructure necessary for nuclear testing would be a significant challenge. This includes reactivating testing sites, developing new testing methods, and ensuring compliance with international safeguards. The cost of these preparations could easily run into the millions of dollars, and the actual testing process would add further expenses.

Furthermore, restarting nuclear tests would have significant geopolitical implications, potentially undermining international efforts to control the spread of nuclear weapons and escalating tensions with other nuclear powers. The move could also draw criticism from allies who have long supported the testing moratorium. The White House has yet to provide a detailed explanation for the decision or a timeline for potential testing.

While the immediate impact remains unclear, the announcement signals a potential shift in U.S. nuclear policy and raises questions about the future of arms control agreements. The feasibility and consequences of resuming nuclear testing are expected to be subjects of intense debate in the coming weeks and months.