Nuclear nations are actively updating and growing their arsenals as global tensions rise, according to a research released on Monday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
According to the think tank, Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel had a total of 12,512 warheads as of January 2023, with 9,576 stockpiled in military stockpiles for potential deployment – an increase of 86 from the previous year.
According to the research, Russia and the United States, who together hold about 90% of the world’s nuclear weapons, have 1,674 and 1,770 deployed warheads, respectively, as of January. According to SIPRI, Russia had approximately 1,588 warheads last year, whereas the US had 1,744.
Following the commencement of hostilities in Ukraine, “the sizes of their respective nuclear arsenals… appear to have remained relatively stable in 2022, although transparency regarding nuclear forces declined in both countries,” according to the think tank.
SIPRI projected that China’s nuclear arsenal increased from 350 to 410 warheads over the course of the year, and that by the end of the decade Beijing “could potentially have at least as many intercontinental ballistic missiles as either the United States or Russia.”
In other news, the UK is not likely to have boosted its arsenal in 2022, despite the fact that the number of warheads is expected to climb in the next years. Meanwhile, France has maintained its nuclear research program, and India and Pakistan look to be increasing their nuclear arsenals, according to the report.
North Korea is thought to be prioritizing its nuclear program, and it is estimated that 30 warheads have been constructed. SIPRI said that Israel, which has not openly confirmed to owning nuclear weapons, is likewise believed to be updating its nuclear arsenal.
The think tank also highlighted the deterioration of global arms control architecture as a result of the Ukraine crisis, citing Washington’s decision to halt strategic stability discussion with Russia and Moscow’s suspension of the 2010 New START Treaty, which limits US and Russian nuclear arsenals.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the plan in February, citing Western governments’ refusal to allow inspections of their nuclear sites. He did, however, confirm that Moscow would continue to adhere to the agreement’s limits on deployed warheads.
