Donald Trump Orders Nuclear Test During Xi Jinping Trade Talks in South Korea

In a dramatic escalation during efforts to ease trade tensions, US President Donald Trump announced the resumption of US nuclear weapons testing while meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea.

The high-profile summit, lasting nearly one hour and forty minutes, marked the first meeting between the two leaders in six years and came under intense global scrutiny. The discussions were centered on key issues such as tariff reductions, China’s purchase of American soybeans, and measures to curb the flow of fentanyl — a critical concern in the US.

Despite hopes for a breakthrough, no formal trade deal was signed. However, significant progress was reported, with China agreeing to resume large-scale purchases of US agricultural products. In return, Trump signaled a willingness to reduce certain tariffs linked to fentanyl, in exchange for Beijing’s cooperation on the drug crisis.

“I thought it was an amazing meeting,” Trump said, characterizing the talks as both “productive and historic.”

The surprise nuclear test announcement overshadowed much of the trade discussion, sending shockwaves through diplomatic circles. The order, which Trump justified as a step toward “modernizing US defense readiness,” drew immediate reactions from global leaders and analysts concerned about its implications for global stability.

Observers noted that Trump’s announcement could be a strategic move aimed at pressuring China amid ongoing economic negotiations, as well as reaffirming America’s military dominance in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Busan summit was closely watched as a potential turning point in the prolonged US-China trade war, which has strained international markets and disrupted global supply chains since 2018.

While no comprehensive resolution was reached, officials from both sides indicated that the discussions would continue, with working groups expected to meet again in November to finalize the details of a possible trade truce framework.

The announcement of the nuclear test order, however, has raised new uncertainties — potentially complicating future diplomatic engagement between the world’s two largest economies.