Nuclear powers increasing deployment of warheads, SIPRI warns
Summary
Nuclear-armed countries are moving more warheads from storage to active delivery systems, increasing the risk of conflict despite a small overall drop in the total number of nuclear weapons. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) warns that this shift, along with slowed dismantling and rising geopolitical tensions, could reverse decades of reductions in nuclear arsenals.Key Facts
- The world has about 12,187 nuclear warheads, with around 9,745 ready for use.
- The total number of nuclear weapons has slightly decreased compared to last year.
- More nuclear warheads are being taken out of storage and put on missiles and other delivery systems.
- The United States and Russia hold about 83% of the world's nuclear warheads, each having more than 5,000.
- Both the U.S. and Russia are modernizing their nuclear forces but face funding, testing, and economic challenges.
- China is increasing its nuclear arsenal rapidly and could match the U.S. and Russia in the number of long-range missiles by 2030.
- SIPRI notes a breakdown in arms control agreements and intensified rivalry among nuclear powers.
- The trend of dismantling old weapons is slowing while deployment of new weapons is speeding up.
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