US to Test-Fire Minuteman III Ballistic Missile Amid Global Security Concerns
The United States military is set to launch a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, following an order from President Donald Trump to resume nuclear testing.
According to U.S. military officials, the test will take place on Tuesday night local time and the missile will be unarmed—without a nuclear warhead. Officials from Space Launch Delta 30, which manages launches from the base, described the event as part of a “routine” testing program that has been planned for years.
Nevertheless, Trump’s directive to restart nuclear testing has triggered widespread international concern, particularly among the Afghan public, over a potential escalation in military competition between major powers. The U.S. president stated that the decision was made in response to similar tests conducted by other countries and aims to “maintain balance.”
According to a report by Newsweek, the missile is expected to be launched from Vandenberg toward the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site located on Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific Ocean—part of the U.S. overseas defense infrastructure.
Data from the Federation of American Scientists indicates that the U.S. Air Force has deployed approximately 400 of these missiles across the states of Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, Wyoming, and North Dakota.
As global tensions and military testing strategies intensify, concerns over international security have grown, especially in vulnerable nations such as Afghanistan. The Taliban administration, which lacks international recognition, has remained silent and plays no active role in regional security decision-making.
