When was the last time US, Russia conducted nuclear testing?

President Trump said Wednesday he directed the Pentagon to immediately start testing U.S. nuclear weapons for the first time since the 1990s to equal testing levels in China and Russia.

“The United States has more Nuclear Weapons than any other country. This was accomplished, including a complete update and renovation of existing weapons, during my First Term in office,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“Because of the tremendous destructive power, I HATED to do it, but had no choice! Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years,” he added.

Russia also recently claimed a successful new nuclear capable cruise missile test last week, which resulted in international concern and Trump’s condemnation. 

Nuclear competition between the U.S. and Russia was a hallmark of the Cold War-era in the 20th century, as tensions ebbed and flowed between the two superpowers for decades.

Here are the last times Russia and the U.S. conducted nuclear testing before recent developments:

United States testing

In 1992, the U.S. stopped explosive testing of nuclear arms.

The most recent nuclear test done by the U.S. occurred in September of that year and was named Divider. It occurred at a compound more than 60 miles away from Las Vegas named the Nevada National Security Sites, according to The Associated Press.

The U.S. stopped nuclear testing due to reasons including the fall of the Soviet Union, according to the AP, with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty receiving the U.S.’s signature in 1996.

Russian testing

The Soviet Union stopped testing nuclear weapons in 1990, and its Russian successor has not officially tested nuclear weapons, according to The Washington Post.

There have been allegations that tests have happened since and during Trump’s first term, and one senior U.S. official said Russia most likely had gone through with secret low-yield nuclear weapons testing.