According to the findings of a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), it was observed that nine countries with nuclear capabilities, which include India, Pakistan, China, the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, North Korea, and Israel, were continuing to modernize their respective nuclear arsenals.
The report highlighted that both Russia and the US hold a significant portion of the world’s nuclear weapons, accounting for 90% collectively. Additionally, in the year 2023, various countries introduced new nuclear-capable weapon systems into their arsenal.
With a deep analysis, the SIPRI report pinpointed that about 2,100 nuclear warheads were maintained at a high operational readiness state on ballistic missiles, primarily belonging to the US and Russia. Moreover, there is a possibility that China also maintained some warheads at high operational readiness for the first time in history.
In terms of the specific number of nuclear warheads possessed by India, the report stated that as of January 2024, India had 172 “stored” nuclear warheads, indicating a slightly higher count than Pakistan. These findings reveal that India displayed a slight expansion of its nuclear arsenal during 2023, while both countries pursued advancements in new nuclear delivery systems.
The report outlined that India’s nuclear deterrent is mostly directed towards Pakistan, although there seems to be a notable shift towards the development of longer-range weapons capable of targeting areas within China. This strategic approach was underscored by the SIPRI report.
Regarding China, Hans Kristensen of SIPRI emphasized that China has been rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal compared to other nations. Furthermore, there is a noticeable trend among nuclear-armed states towards either already implementing plans or actively seeking to enhance their existing nuclear capabilities, as stated by PTI citing Kristensen.
