iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
The world’s nine nuclear-armed nations continued rapidly modernizing their nuclear arsenals in 2023, raising risks of a dangerous arms race and potential use of these weapons, according to new data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
SIPRI estimates there were around 12,121 nuclear warheads worldwide as of January 2024, with some 3,904 deployed and ready for use – an increase of 60 warheads from 2023. Around 2,100 of those deployed warheads were kept in a state of high operational alert.
“While the global total of nuclear warheads continues to fall gradually, we are extremely concerned by the year-on-year increases in operational nuclear warheads,” said SIPRI Director Dan Smith. “This trend seems likely to accelerate in coming years.”
The report singles out India, Pakistan, and North Korea for pursuing capabilities to deploy multiple warheads on ballistic missiles – something the other nuclear powers already possess. This could enable a rapid increase in deployed warheads.
For India, the nuclear modernization underway in neighboring China and Pakistan poses escalating challenges on two fronts. SIPRI estimates China’s total nuclear warhead inventory grew to 500 in 2024, up from 410 a year earlier.
“China is expanding its nuclear arsenal faster than any other country,” said Hans Kristensen of SIPRI. “It could potentially have at least as many ICBMs as Russia or the U.S. by 2030.”
Pakistan meanwhile continues rapidly building up its nuclear forces as well. Its nuclear stockpile has remained static at 170 nuclear warheads, as India has overtaken Pakistan with 172 warheads, compared to its stockpile of 164 in 2023.
As the nuclear arms race intensifies in the region, India and Pakistan continued advancing new nuclear delivery systems in 2023. While Pakistan remains the primary focus for India’s nuclear deterrent posture, New Delhi is also placing increased emphasis on developing longer-range weapons that could potentially strike targets across China.
While still far smaller than China, Russia and the U.S., India’s nuclear forces face potential threats of being overwhelmed by the simultaneous expansions underway in Beijing and Islamabad.
The bulk of the world’s nuclear weapons continues to be held by Russia and the United States, which together possess nearly 90 percent of the global total. However, both are gradually retiring older warheads even as they deploy new ones.
France, the UK, Israel, and North Korea are all modernizing their nuclear forces as well according to SIPRI’s research. North Korea is believed to have produced enough fissile material for up to 90 warheads.
“We are now in one of the most dangerous periods in human history due to this accelerating global nuclear arms race,” warned SIPRI Director Smith. “It is time for the great powers to reflect and step back from the abyss beckoning.”
The report highlights the heightened nuclear risks at a time of mounting geopolitical tensions and rivalries between the major powers. Without steps toward arms control, the costs and threats of these doomsday weapons will continue growing unchecked.
