According to a recent report by the Stockholm Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the number of nuclear weapons worldwide increased in 2023. The total number of nuclear warheads rose from 12,705 in the previous year to 12,825.
SIPRI warns that this trend could further destabilize global security.
Key Findings of the SIPRI Report
As the Tagesschau reports, Russia and the United States, which together hold more than 90 percent of the world's nuclear weapons, are particularly involved in this rearmament.
Both nations are heavily investing in modernizing their nuclear arsenals.
Other nuclear-armed states such as China, India, and Pakistan are also expanding their nuclear capacities.
The SIPRI report points out that international efforts towards nuclear disarmament have come to a standstill.
Treaties like the New START treaty between the US and Russia, which aims to reduce strategic nuclear weapons, face an uncertain future.
This shift in focus from disarmament to armament increases the risk of nuclear conflict.
Concerns and Risks
Experts are deeply concerned about these developments.
The ongoing modernization and expansion of nuclear arsenals could potentially trigger a new arms race. This scenario poses a threat to global stability and peace.
SIPRI urges the international community to prioritize diplomatic solutions and disarmament agreements to mitigate the risk of a nuclear disaster.
