A new report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) warns that the world's nine nuclear-armed states are upgrading and expanding their arsenals, accelerating an arms race that is creating "new risks" amid rising global tensions.

Published on Monday, the study found that as of January 2025, the nine nuclear powers—China, France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—possessed 12,187 nuclear warheads, with approximately 9,745 held in military stockpiles. An estimated 4,012 warheads were deployed on missiles and aircraft, while up to 2,200 were kept on high alert, ready for launch within minutes.

Russia and the US remain the overwhelming nuclear powers, together possessing an estimated 83% of warheads available for military use and nearly 86% of all nuclear weapons globally. SIPRI noted that their "extensive" modernization programs "seem likely to increase the size and diversity of their arsenals in the future."

China's nuclear arsenal, the world's third-largest, grew from about 600 to 620 warheads year-on-year, expanding faster than any other country. The UK's arsenal is not believed to have increased last year, but is expected to grow in the future. France continued modernizing its capabilities, announcing plans to expand its warhead count and ceasing public disclosure of its arsenal size.

India is thought to have slightly increased its nuclear arsenal in 2025 and continued developing new delivery systems, as did neighboring Pakistan, which also accumulated fissile material. Israel maintains its policy of nuclear ambiguity, but SIPRI estimates its arsenal at about 90 warheads. North Korea is estimated to have assembled around 60 warheads and continues developing capabilities to "exponentially" expand its arsenal.

"Influential voices, including some world leaders, are advocating nuclear weapons as a guarantee against attack by a hostile state," said SIPRI Director Karim Haggag. "But making national defense and security strategies dependent—or more dependent—on nuclear weapons could significantly increase nuclear risks." The report warns that the steady decline in global nuclear stockpiles since the Cold War may reverse in coming years due to slower dismantlement of retired warheads and accelerated deployment of new weapons.

Source: www.aljazeera.com