India has more nuclear weapons than Pakistan.
The latest report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reveals significant developments and trends in global nuclear arsenals as of January 2024.
The report estimates the total number of nuclear warheads globally at 12,121, with about 9,585 of these warheads stored in military stockpiles for potential use.
Deployed Warheads:
Of the total, approximately 3,904 warheads are currently deployed on missiles and aircraft, marking an increase of 60 from the previous year.
Notably, around 2,100 of these deployed warheads are maintained on high operational alert, predominantly by the US and Russia.
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For the first time, China is also believed to have some warheads on high operational alert.
Country-Specific Updates:
China has expanded its nuclear arsenal from 410 to 500 warheads and is projected to continue this growth. The country is also enhancing its capability to maintain intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) on high alert.
India and Pakistan are both advancing their nuclear delivery systems. India has slightly increased its arsenal to 172 warheads, focusing on longer-range weapons capable of targeting China, while Pakistan’s arsenal stands at approximately 170 warheads.
North Korea continues its efforts to deploy multiple warheads on ballistic missiles, aligning with a broader trend among nuclear-armed states.
All nine nuclear-armed nations are modernizing their arsenals.
Several of these countries have deployed new nuclear-armed or nuclear-capable weapon systems over the past year.
US and Russia:
The US and Russia collectively hold nearly 90% of the world’s nuclear weapons.
While the sizes of their military stockpiles have remained relatively stable, Russia has deployed 36 more warheads with operational forces compared to the previous year.
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Transparency concerning nuclear forces has diminished, especially following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, raising the stakes in nuclear-sharing debates and arms control discussions.
Future Projections:
China’s rapid nuclear expansion could see it possessing as many ICBMs as either Russia or the US by the end of this decade, although its total stockpile is expected to remain smaller than those of the two superpowers.
The SIPRI report highlights a global trend toward increased modernization and expansion of nuclear arsenals, highlighting the strategic shifts and escalating capabilities among key nuclear powers, particularly China, India, and Pakistan.
🚨Breaking News☢️NATO Negotiates to Put Nuclear Weapons on Standby Amid Growing Threat from Russia and China
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that the alliance is negotiating to put nuclear weapons on standby and deploy more of them in response to escalating… pic.twitter.com/BSOIY8IqSd
— World War 3 (@Worldwar_3_) June 17, 2024
This trend points to a more complex and potentially destabilizing nuclear landscape in the coming years.
How many country have nuclear weapon?
Nine countries possess nuclear weapons: the United States, Russia, France, China, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, India, Israel, and North Korea.
