Closer to a Nuclear Disaster. Nuclear Arsenal is on the Rise.

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) annual assessment of the state of armament.

On June 12th, the Peace Research Institut released its 54th edition of the Yearbook, SIPRI Yearbook 2023, an analysis of developments in armaments, disarmament and international security. The publication reveals that the number of operational nuclear weapons is rising as countries’ long-term force modernization and expansion plans progress, and continues reminding that World nuclear forces – the United States, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel – possess an estimated 12,512 nuclear weapons, most of them operational.

SIPRI’s press release on the book indicates that almost 90 per cent of nuclear weapons belong to Russia and the USA together, although, due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, there is a lack of transparency regarding nuclear forces from both countries.

Regarding China, its nuclear arsenal has increased by 60 warheads since the year 2022, and it is expected to keep growing. SIPRI believes that there is a good chance that, by 2030, China could have as many intercontinental ballistic missiles as either the USA or Russia.

The rest of the nuclear forces follow a similar pattern. The UK announced that it would no longer disclose its nuclear numbers and information. France is developing a third-generation nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine and a new air-launched cruise missile. India is developing longer-range weapons, North Korea is continuing to test missiles, some of which are capable of carrying nuclear warheads. And Israel, which does not publicly admit possessing nuclear weapons, continues developing its nuclear arsenal.

According to Dan Smith, SIPRI Director, “We are drifting into one of the most dangerous periods in human history”.

Mayors for Peace warns that in nuclear weapon attacks, cities and their citizens are the targets. Profound consequences on a global scale are to be inflicted by their use, including devastating environmental and economic effects. Therefore, in collaboration with the mayors of its 8,259 member cities, we urge the nuclear states to reduce their nuclear arsenals and end their modernization.

Find the press release, in different languages, here https://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2023/states-invest-nuclear-arsenals-geopolitical-relations-deteriorate-new-sipri-yearbook-out-now

Find the SIPRI Yearbook 2023 https://www.sipri.org/yearbook/2023