The world’s nine nuclear-armed states are upgrading and expanding their arsenals, with a new report warning of “new risks” due to an accelerating arms race. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) study revealed that most of these countries deployed new nuclear-armed or nuclear-capable weapon systems last year, reversing decades of demobilisation efforts. The nine nuclear powers possessed a total of 12,187 nuclear warheads as of January this year, with Russia and the US leading the pack. While the global nuclear stockpile had been decreasing since the Cold War, SIPRI predicts a reversal in the coming years as countries modernize and deploy new weapons.
Why It Matters
The report highlights the growing dangers of an arms race among nuclear-armed states, with increasing reliance on nuclear weapons reversing previous disarmament efforts. As countries like China, Russia, and the US expand their arsenals, the risks of escalation and miscalculation in global tensions are on the rise. The steady increase in nuclear capabilities among these states could have significant implications for international security and stability in the years to come.
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