UPSC Articles
Global Expansion of Nuclear Arsenal: SIPRI Report
Part of: GS Prelims and GS -II – International Relations
In news
- According to a recent report published in the SIPRI Yearbook 2021, the number of nuclear warheads which are ready and deployed have increased globally.
- The SIPRI Yearbook is released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) which researches international armament and conflict.
Key highlights of the report
- The overall number of warheads in global military stockpiles now appears to be increasing.
- China is in the middle of a significant modernisation and expansion of its nuclear weapon inventory.
- India and Pakistan also appear to be expanding their nuclear arsenals.
- According to the year book, India possessed an estimated 156 nuclear warheads at the start of 2021 compared to 150 at the start of last year
- The nine nuclear armed states – the U.S., Russia, the U.K., France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea.
- These countries together possessed an estimated 13,080 nuclear weapons at the start of 2021.
- Russia and the U.S. together possessed over 90% of global nuclear weapons
- The five largest arms importers were: Saudi Arabia, India, Egypt, Australia and China.
- They together accounted for 36% of total arms imports.
