Nuclear weapons: Trump fears China will catch up with the United States within five years

In an interview broadcast on Newsmax on October 15, Donald Trump said the United States has the world’s largest nuclear arsenal, ahead of Russia and China, but warned that Beijing could catch up within five years. SIPRI estimates that the U.S. and Russian arsenals account for about 86% of the world’s 12,187 nuclear warheads; the Pentagon estimated China had around 600 in 2024, up from just over 200 in 2020. Trump said he wants to reduce nuclear arsenals and that Washington is discussing denuclearization with Moscow and Beijing, but no formal negotiations have begun with China. Beijing has rejected trilateral talks, arguing that the United States and Russia should reduce their arsenals first.