A report confirms the increase in the world’s nuclear arsenal

The number of nuclear weapons in operational status increased last year, at the same time that the powers promote their expansion and modernization programs of their arsenals, the Stockholm International Institute for Peace Studies warned on Monday. (SIPRI).

Of the total estimated 12,512 nuclear warheads possessed by the nine atomic powers (United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea) in January 2023, around 9,576 were in arsenals for use. potential, a 1% more than a year ago.

Of these, about 3,844 warheads were deployed on missiles and planes and about 2,000, almost all from the United States and Russia, in a state of high operational alert, according to a report by this organization, which nevertheless notes a year-on-year drop of almost two points. in the global nuclear arsenal.

The size of the arsenal of these two countries, which together account for the 90% of all nuclear weapons, “seems to have remained relatively stable”although transparency in that area has declined as a result of the Russian military intervention in Ukraine that began in February 2022.

SIPRI estimates that China has increased its number of warheads in the past year by a 17% and it is expected to continue to grow, so that by the end of this decade it could have as many ICBMs as Russia or the US.

The report expects the UK to increase its number of warheads in the future following the government’s announcement in 2021 and notes that France is continuing its development programs for third-generation nuclear ballistic submarine missiles and air-launched cruise missiles.

India and Pakistan also appear to be expanding their arsenals, while North Korea continues to prioritize its nuclear program as a central element of its national security strategy.

SIPRI estimates that Pyongyang has assembled around thirty warheads and has enough fissile material for between fifty and seventy more, an increase “significant” compared to a year earlier.

Israel, which does not publicly admit to possessing nuclear weapons, is also believed to be modernizing its arsenal.

“Most of the nuclear powers are toughening the rhetoric about the importance of these weapons and even using explicit or implicit threats about their potential use. This nuclear competition has dramatically increased the risk of nuclear weapons being used for the first time since World War II.”warns the report.

SIPRI also warns that the increase in geopolitical tension and the closure of communication channels increases the risk of “miscalculations, misunderstandings and accidents” up levels “unacceptably high”.

“There is an urgent need to restore nuclear diplomacy and strengthen international nuclear weapons controls”denounces the report of this institute dedicated to the investigation of conflicts, weapons, arms control and disarmament, created in 1966 and based in Stockholm.

Source: EFE