In a striking move early on November 5, 2025, the United States successfully launched an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile — the LGM-30G Minuteman III — from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. According to reports, the missile landed near the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site in the Marshall Islands, and the launch was flagged as happening shortly after President Donald Trump’s directive to resume nuclear-weapons testing, a pause on which had lasted over three decades.
While the launch was described as part of a scheduled test, the timing and context have prompted questions about whether it signals a broader shift in U.S. nuclear-deterrence strategy. President Trump had previously directed the Pentagon to “immediately” resume testing of U.S. nuclear weapons, asserting that rivals like China and Russia were not holding back.
However, U.S. officials quickly moved to clarify that nuclear-explosive tests are not currently planned. According to the Energy Secretary, the administration’s immediate plans involve system checks and component tests rather than underground detonations.
Some analysts argue the Minuteman III launch was routine — part of verifying the readiness of the land-based leg of the nuclear triad — and not directly linked to the president’s statement. In fact, a recent piece from Business Insider described the launch as “scheduled months in advance.”
Nevertheless, the overlap of the launch with the public directive has raised alarm among disarmament advocates and international observers. Resuming nuclear-weapons testing — or even signaling that possibility — could erode longstanding arms-control norms and spark broader proliferation risks.
The launch also arrives at a delicate moment in global strategic affairs, with heightened tensions involving nuclear-armed states. U.S. officials emphasize the Minuteman III system remains a deterrent force intended solely for response to a nuclear attack and stressed that the missile in this test was unarmed.
As this story develops, key questions remain:
- Will the U.S. follow through with actual nuclear-explosive testing, or will it continue to rely solely on system and component testing?
- How will U.S. allies and adversaries interpret this shift, and what effect might it have on arms-control treaties and global stability?
- Could this trigger reciprocal actions from Russia or China, raising the risk of a renewed arms race?
For now, although the missile launch did occur in the shadow of President Trump’s directive, official lines suggest no immediate underground nuclear tests are underway — but the strategic messaging alone may already carry significant implications.
