Experts warn of ‘one of the most dangerous periods in human history’ amid nuclear arsenal development
The report said that India and Pakistan were both expanding their arsenals, as well as North Korea. The report added that it estimated North Korea may have assembled about 30 warheads and has enough material for between 50 and 70 warheads.
The report also added that the Russia-Ukraine war has set back nuclear arms control and disarmament diplomacy, saying that countries were being less transparent about nuclear forces in the wake of the conflict.
“In this period of high geopolitical tension and mistrust, with communication channels between nuclear-armed rivals closed or barely functioning, the risks of miscalculation, misunderstanding or accident are unacceptably high,” Smith said. “There is an urgent need to restore nuclear diplomacy and strengthen international controls on nuclear arms.”
BY LAUREN SFORZA - 06/12/23
THE HILL
THE HILL
Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP
This photo made from video provided by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, shows a Yars missile launcher of the Russian armed forces being driven from a shelter in an undisclosed location in Russia. The Russian military on Wednesday launched drills of its strategic missile forces, deploying Yars mobile launchers…
A group of experts warns that that the development of nuclear arsenals is leading to a perilous period in history.
“We are drifting into one of the most dangerous periods in human history,” Dan Smith, director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, said in a statement. “It is imperative that the world’s governments find ways to cooperate in order to calm geopolitical tensions, slow arms races and deal with the worsening consequences of environmental breakdown and rising world hunger.”
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s new report shows that the rising number of nuclear warheads in military stockpiles threatened global security and stability. The global inventory of warheads in military stockpiles increased by 86 in 2023, according to the report.
The report noted that the United States and Russia have nearly 90 percent of all nuclear weapons across the globe. China has increased its arsenal from 350 warheads to 410 warheads in 2023, a move that the report said could signal that China may have as many intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) as either Russia or the United States by 2030.
“China has started a significant expansion of its nuclear arsenal,” said Hans Kristensen, a fellow at the organization’s weapons of mass destruction program. “It is increasingly difficult to square this trend with China’s declared aim of having only the minimum nuclear forces needed to maintain its national security.”
This photo made from video provided by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, shows a Yars missile launcher of the Russian armed forces being driven from a shelter in an undisclosed location in Russia. The Russian military on Wednesday launched drills of its strategic missile forces, deploying Yars mobile launchers…
A group of experts warns that that the development of nuclear arsenals is leading to a perilous period in history.
“We are drifting into one of the most dangerous periods in human history,” Dan Smith, director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, said in a statement. “It is imperative that the world’s governments find ways to cooperate in order to calm geopolitical tensions, slow arms races and deal with the worsening consequences of environmental breakdown and rising world hunger.”
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s new report shows that the rising number of nuclear warheads in military stockpiles threatened global security and stability. The global inventory of warheads in military stockpiles increased by 86 in 2023, according to the report.
The report noted that the United States and Russia have nearly 90 percent of all nuclear weapons across the globe. China has increased its arsenal from 350 warheads to 410 warheads in 2023, a move that the report said could signal that China may have as many intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) as either Russia or the United States by 2030.
“China has started a significant expansion of its nuclear arsenal,” said Hans Kristensen, a fellow at the organization’s weapons of mass destruction program. “It is increasingly difficult to square this trend with China’s declared aim of having only the minimum nuclear forces needed to maintain its national security.”
The report said that India and Pakistan were both expanding their arsenals, as well as North Korea. The report added that it estimated North Korea may have assembled about 30 warheads and has enough material for between 50 and 70 warheads.
The report also added that the Russia-Ukraine war has set back nuclear arms control and disarmament diplomacy, saying that countries were being less transparent about nuclear forces in the wake of the conflict.
“In this period of high geopolitical tension and mistrust, with communication channels between nuclear-armed rivals closed or barely functioning, the risks of miscalculation, misunderstanding or accident are unacceptably high,” Smith said. “There is an urgent need to restore nuclear diplomacy and strengthen international controls on nuclear arms.”
By AFP
June 12, 2023
China's DF-41 nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles are shown off during a military parade in Beijing to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China - Copyright AFP/File GREG BAKER
The nuclear arsenals of several countries, especially China, grew last year and other atomic powers continued to modernise theirs as geopolitical tensions rise, researchers said Monday.
“We are approaching, or maybe have already reached, the end of a long period of the number of nuclear weapons worldwide declining,” Dan Smith, director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), told AFP.
The total amount of nuclear warheads among the nine nuclear powers — Britain, China, France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia and the United States — was down to 12,512 at the outset of 2023, from 12,710 at the start of 2022, according to SIPRI.
Of those, 9,576 were in “military stockpiles for potential use”, 86 more than a year earlier.
SIPRI distinguishes between countries’ stockpiles available for use and their total inventory — which includes older ones scheduled to be dismantled.
“The stockpile is the usable nuclear warheads, and those numbers are beginning to tick up,” Smith said, while noting that numbers are still far from the over 70,000 seen during the 1980s.
The bulk of the increase was from China, which increased its stockpile from 350 to 410 warheads.
India, Pakistan and North Korea also upped their stockpiles and Russia’s grew to a smaller extent, from 4,477 to 4,489, while the remaining nuclear powers maintained the size of their arsenal.
Russia and the United States together still have almost 90 percent of all nuclear weapons.
“The big picture is we’ve had over 30 years of the number of nuclear warheads coming down, and we see that process coming to an end now,” Smith said.
– China ‘stepping up’ –
Researchers at SIPRI also noted that diplomatic efforts on nuclear arms control and disarmament had suffered setbacks following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
For instance, the United States suspended its “bilateral strategic stability dialogue” with Russia in the wake of the invasion.
In February, Moscow announced it was it was suspending participation in the 2010 Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (New START).
SIPRI noted in a statement that it “was the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty limiting Russian and US strategic nuclear forces”.
At the same time, Smith said the increase in stockpiles could not be explained by the war in Ukraine as it takes a longer time to develop new warheads and that the bulk of the increase was among countries not directly affected.
China has also invested heavily in all parts of its military as its economy and influence have grown.
“What we’re seeing is China stepping up as a world power, that is the reality of our time,” Smith said.
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China's DF-41 nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles are shown off during a military parade in Beijing to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China - Copyright AFP/File GREG BAKER
The nuclear arsenals of several countries, especially China, grew last year and other atomic powers continued to modernise theirs as geopolitical tensions rise, researchers said Monday.
“We are approaching, or maybe have already reached, the end of a long period of the number of nuclear weapons worldwide declining,” Dan Smith, director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), told AFP.
The total amount of nuclear warheads among the nine nuclear powers — Britain, China, France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia and the United States — was down to 12,512 at the outset of 2023, from 12,710 at the start of 2022, according to SIPRI.
Of those, 9,576 were in “military stockpiles for potential use”, 86 more than a year earlier.
SIPRI distinguishes between countries’ stockpiles available for use and their total inventory — which includes older ones scheduled to be dismantled.
“The stockpile is the usable nuclear warheads, and those numbers are beginning to tick up,” Smith said, while noting that numbers are still far from the over 70,000 seen during the 1980s.
The bulk of the increase was from China, which increased its stockpile from 350 to 410 warheads.
India, Pakistan and North Korea also upped their stockpiles and Russia’s grew to a smaller extent, from 4,477 to 4,489, while the remaining nuclear powers maintained the size of their arsenal.
Russia and the United States together still have almost 90 percent of all nuclear weapons.
“The big picture is we’ve had over 30 years of the number of nuclear warheads coming down, and we see that process coming to an end now,” Smith said.
– China ‘stepping up’ –
Researchers at SIPRI also noted that diplomatic efforts on nuclear arms control and disarmament had suffered setbacks following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
For instance, the United States suspended its “bilateral strategic stability dialogue” with Russia in the wake of the invasion.
In February, Moscow announced it was it was suspending participation in the 2010 Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (New START).
SIPRI noted in a statement that it “was the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty limiting Russian and US strategic nuclear forces”.
At the same time, Smith said the increase in stockpiles could not be explained by the war in Ukraine as it takes a longer time to develop new warheads and that the bulk of the increase was among countries not directly affected.
China has also invested heavily in all parts of its military as its economy and influence have grown.
“What we’re seeing is China stepping up as a world power, that is the reality of our time,” Smith said.
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