According to the International Institute for Peace Research in Stockholm (Sipri), USA and Russia, which hold 90% of the global nuclear arsenal, they are modernizing weapons and developing new versions
The main states that have nuclear weapons continued to modernize their arsenals last year, paving the way for a new nuclear arms race, warned the International Institute for Research for Peace of Stockholm (Sipri) in a report published on Monday (16). Nuclear powers, especially e – which represent about 90% of the world reserves – have started “the modernization of existing weapons and are adding new versions,” says Sipri in a statement.
Since the end of The old nuclear warheads were generally dismantled faster than new, which led to a decrease in the total number of warheads. This trend may be reverse in the coming years. “What we are already observing is that the number of operational nuclear warheads begins to increase,” Sipri director Dan Smith told AFP Smith. This is the case of China which, according to the institute’s calculations, has about 600 nuclear warheads, after adding 100 new ones in both 2023 and 2024. It regularly increases its nuclear arsenal, ”says Smith. It is“ possible to reach 1,000 warheads within seven or eight years, ”he adds.
Highly technological
SIPRI registered a total of 12,241 warheads in January 2025, of which 9,614 were stored with a view to potential use. Russia and the United States have “vast modernization and replacement programs of their nuclear warheads,” says the report. The United Kingdom would not have increased its number of warheads in 2024, but considering the decision made by the country in 2021 to raise the limit from 225 to 260 warheads, it is likely that this number will grow in the future, the document adds.
Although the Arsenal of France remains stable in about 290 warheads, “its nuclear modernization program advanced in 2024”. India and Pakistan “continued to develop new types of nuclear weapon vectors in 2024”. In early 2025, India had a “growing reserve” of about 180 nuclear weapons, while Pakistan’s arsenal remains stable in approximately 170 warheads.
North Korea’s Nuclear Weapons Program is “at the center of its national security strategy,” according to the report, which estimates its arsenal in about 50 ogives, and can reach a total “90 warheads” in the future. Israel, which does not officially recognize nuclear weapons, would also be modernizing its arsenal, which Sipri estimates about 90 warheads earlier this year.
The new nuclear arms race that approaches not only refers to “the number of warheads,” warns Smith. “It will be highly technological” and will occur both in space and cyberspace, ”as the programs to control and guide nuclear weapons will also become a competitive sector, the expert adds. The rapid development of artificial intelligence probably will have an important role, initially as a complement to humans. “The next step would be to move on to total automation. This is a step that should never be taken,” says Smith.
*With information from AFP
