Global spending on the development, maintenance, and modernization of nuclear weapons has reached a record high, with nuclear-armed nations transferring more warheads into active deployment systems, experts reported on Tuesday.
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) revealed in a research report that the nine nuclear-armed nations collectively spent nearly $119 billion on their arsenals last year, a 19% increase from 2022.
ICAN's report warns, 'We are now on the brink of a new nuclear arms race.'
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) also released a separate report on Monday, cautioning that nuclear risks are increasing amid significant geopolitical tensions. ICAN shares the same concern.
Both studies indicate that various countries are modernizing their nuclear arsenals and preparing to deploy more weapons, leading to a rapid increase in spending.
SIPRI's report notes that while the total number of nuclear warheads worldwide has been decreasing for several decades, the number of deployable warheads has increased to 9,745.
SIPRI Director Karim Haggagh stated, 'Even as the number of nuclear weapons decreases, the level of nuclear danger and risk is increasing.' He attributed this to the weakening of strategic arms control systems and increasing competition among nuclear-armed nations.
SIPRI predicts that the global nuclear arsenal may increase again in the coming years as the pace of dismantling old weapons slows while the deployment of new ones accelerates.
Currently, the United States and Russia possess approximately 83% of the world's total nuclear arsenal, with over 5,000 warheads each. China is expanding its nuclear arsenal faster than any other nation, with an estimated 620 warheads.
ICAN's report highlights that the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, France, India, Israel, North Korea, and Pakistan have all increased their investment in nuclear arsenals. These nine nations collectively spent about $17 billion more last year compared to the previous year, with the United States leading in expenditure.
ICAN data shows that the United States spent $69.2 billion on its nuclear weapons program in 2023, a $12.4 billion increase from the previous year. China spent approximately $13.5 billion, followed by the United Kingdom with $12.6 billion, and Russia with about $9.5 billion.
Over the past five years, these nine nations have collectively spent over $47 billion on their nuclear arsenals. Researchers predict that this spending will continue to rise.
ICAN notes that the United Kingdom, France, and the United States plan to spend heavily on developing and maintaining their nuclear weapons systems well into the next century. Other nations are also introducing long-lasting new weapon systems.
The report mentions that the United States' planned new 'Sentinel' intercontinental ballistic missile could remain active beyond 2100. The country's plans to increase plutonium production suggest that current warheads could remain effective until 2120, requiring significant funding.
Researchers estimate that U.S. spending on nuclear weapons could approach $1 trillion between 2025 and 2034.
Experts argue that this massive expenditure occurs at a time when global humanitarian aid is in crisis. They calculate that the daily spending on nuclear weapons last year could have provided food security for over 20 million people.
Susi Snyder, ICAN's program director and co-author of the latest research report, stated, 'Nuclear-armed nations are investing in arsenals that, if used, would constitute war crimes, instead of spending on aid or healthcare for their own people—even though they know this.'
