All these high alert warheads belong to Russia or America. However, for the first time, China is believed to have some warheads on high operational alert.
STOCKHOLM – The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has said in its 2024 annual assessment that India now has more nuclear weapons than Pakistan.
The SIPRI report, which examines the state of arms, disarmament and international security, lists the United States as the country with the most nuclear warheads, followed by Russia, Britain, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel.
The report highlights that amid deteriorating geopolitical relations, nuclear weapons have become increasingly prominent, increasing both their number and types, further increasing states’ reliance on nuclear deterrence. Nuclear-weapon states continue to modernize their arsenals, and several have deployed new nuclear-armed or nuclear-capable weapons systems in 2023.
The SIPRI study found that, as of January 2024, about 9,585 warheads out of 12,121 were in military stockpiles for potential use. 3,904 of these warheads were deployed with missiles and aircraft – an increase of 60 since January 2023.
All these high alert warheads belong to Russia or America. However, for the first time, China is believed to have some warheads on high operational alert.
SIPRI Director Dan Smith expressed concern over this trend, saying, “While the global decline in nuclear arsenals continues due to the phasing out of Cold War-era weapons, we regret that the operational the number of nuclear warheads is increasing year by year.”
The report added that Russia and the United States have about 90 percent of the nuclear weapons. Both countries are demobilizing 1,200 retired warheads from military service. SIPRI estimates that China’s nuclear arsenal increased from 410 warheads in January 2023 to 500 in January 2024.
Britain is expected to increase its warhead stockpile, while France is developing a third-generation nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), a new cruise missile, and upgrading existing systems.
India and North Korea are pursuing the ability to deploy multiple warheads on ballistic missiles. India’s nuclear arsenal increased slightly in 2023, with an emphasis on long-range missiles capable of reaching targets across China. India continued to develop new types of nuclear delivery systems last year as well. The report put India’s ‘stockpile’ of nuclear warheads at 172 in January this year, compared to 170 for Pakistan.
North Korea is estimated to have about 50 warheads and enough fissile material to reach 90 warheads, both of which are significant increases from the January 2023 estimate.
“We are now in one of the most dangerous times in human history,” Smith said. “There are multiple sources of instability — political rivalries, economic inequality, environmental disruption, an accelerating arms race.” The abyss is beckoning, and it’s time for the great powers to step back and think. Preferably together.”