Former President Donald Trump proposed on Thursday to move towards global denuclearization, suggesting that the United States, Russia, and China should work on eliminating their arsenals.
"It would be fantastic if everyone got rid of their nuclear weapons. I know that Russia and us have by far the most nuclear weapons. China will have a similar amount in four or five years. It would be great if we could all denuclearize, because the power of nuclear weapons is madness," Trump said in a video later posted on the social network X.
The comment comes three weeks after a statement made in the Oval Office, where he emphasized the importance of restarting discussions on nuclear arms control, particularly with Russia and China.
Trump expressed that he would like to see a significant reduction in the military budgets of the three powers, and he lamented the enormous amount of money being invested in the modernization of the nuclear arsenals.
"There is no reason for us to be building entirely new nuclear weapons; we already have so many," he pointed out.
Trump, who had already addressed the topic of denuclearization during his first term, emphasized that the massive military spending allocated to nuclear weapons could be redirected toward more productive initiatives.
"You could destroy the world 50 times, 100 times. And here we are building new nuclear weapons, and they are building nuclear weapons," he stated, referring to the increasing spending by the U.S., Russia, and China on their respective arsenals.
During his remarks, Trump also predicted that China would soon reach a nuclear destruction capability comparable to that of the United States and Russia, with a long-range nuclear capability expected to be developed within five or six years. "If these weapons were ever to be used, that would likely be the apocalypse," he warned.
The former president stated that, once the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine are resolved, his aim would be to convene meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss the reduction of military budgets for the three countries.
"One of the first meetings I want to have is with President Xi of China and President Putin of Russia. And I want to say, 'let's cut our military budget in half.' And we can do it. And I believe we will be able to do it," he stated.
Trump also recalled his failed efforts during his first term to involve China in negotiations on nuclear arms control, when the United States and Russia attempted to extend the New START treaty.
Currently, Russia has suspended its participation in the treaty, while both countries continue with massive programs to modernize their Cold War-era nuclear arsenals.
Frequently Asked Questions about Trump's Nuclear Disarmament Proposal
What does Donald Trump propose regarding nuclear weapons?
Donald Trump has proposed moving towards global denuclearization, suggesting that the United States, Russia, and China should work together to eliminate their nuclear arsenals. According to Trump, the destructive power of these weapons is "madness," and he believes that reducing the arsenals could free up resources for more productive initiatives.
Why does Trump consider global denuclearization important?
Trump considers that global denuclearization is crucial because the power of nuclear weapons is "madness" and their potential use could lead to apocalyptic scenarios. Furthermore, he believes that the enormous military budgets allocated to these weapons could be redirected towards initiatives that would be more beneficial for humanity.
What challenges does Trump's proposal for denuclearization face?
One of the main challenges is Russia's current suspension from the New START treaty, while the United States and Russia continue to modernize their nuclear arsenals. Furthermore, Trump acknowledges the difficulty of engaging China in nuclear arms control negotiations, an effort he had previously attempted without success during his first term.
How does Trump plan to reduce the military budgets of the United States, Russia, and China?
Trump has expressed his intention to hold meetings with the presidents of Russia and China to discuss cutting military budgets in half. He believes this goal is achievable and that it could free up resources for other more productive initiatives.
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