Why America Stands to Lose If It Resumes Nuclear Testing

unpaywalled: https://archive.is/hCOSJ

>The technical superiority of the American nuclear stockpile exists only because Russia and China quit testing and the United States invested heavily in science. If a second Trump administration resumed nuclear testing, Russia and China would surely follow suit—and because they have more to learn from each test, they would erode the United States’ advantage. Moreover, new or emerging nuclear weapons states—say, Iran or Saudi Arabia—would feel no constraints against carrying out explosion tests. The result would be that the United States’ nuclear-armed foes would be even more capable.