Testing US nuclear arsenal is important to national security, Vance says


U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks with reporters upon his arrival at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., October 19, 2025. Oliver Contreras/Pool via REUTERS

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Testing the U.S. nuclear arsenal is important to ensuring national security, Vice President JD Vance said on Thursday after President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. 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."

(Reporting by Jeff Mason, Ismail Shakil, Christian Martinez; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Caitlin Webber)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In World

Two humanitarian aid boats en route to Cuba are missing, Mexico says
Trump extends deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz
Thai ship hit in Hormuz runs aground off Iran's Qeshm Island, Iran's Tasnim says
Russia and Ukraine both say they capture frontline villages
U.S. stocks drop amid Middle East uncertainty
Norway, Belgium sign agreement on cross-border CO2 transport
U.S. stocks close lower
North Korea, Belarus sign friendship treaty, KCNA says
Flash: Trump says he is pausing period of Iranian "energy plant destruction" by 10 days to April 6
Crude futures settle higher

Others Also Read