Wars, conflicts and geopolitical tensions around the world threaten to drive the nine nuclear powers into a spiral of armament.
June 8, 2026, 5:31 a.mJune 8, 2026, 5:31 a.m
This emerges from a new report by the Stockholm peace research institute Sipri. “We are already in the middle of a new nuclear arms race,” said Sipri expert Matt Korda to the German Press Agency. “Every nuclear state expands its nuclear arsenal either quantitatively or qualitatively – and some do both.”
Protests in the USA against nuclear weapons on the anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing.Image: keystone
At the same time, the modernization and improvement of arsenals triggers a kind of chain reaction in which the measures taken by one country lead to similar steps in other nuclear states. “This cycle is extremely difficult to break,” said Korda.
According to the current report by peace researchers, the nuclear powers are using their arsenals more as a deterrent. Moscow, for example, alluded to its nuclear potential during the war of aggression in Ukraine in order to deter Western countries from supporting Ukraine.
Less transparency without an agreement between the USA and Russia
In addition, the New Start arms control treaty between Russia and the USA expired in February without a successor agreement being reached. Therefore, the two major nuclear powers could theoretically load many hundreds of warheads onto their existing carrier systems without having to build a single new carrier, said Sipri researcher Korda. Without appropriate treaties, nuclear weapons states are increasingly choosing not to disclose important details about their nuclear capabilities, the expert warned.
“There are increasing signs that the nuclear weapon states are neglecting their disarmament obligations or even abandoning them completely and are instead flaunting their nuclear strength,” said Sipri researcher Hans Kristensen, according to a statement. “By reaching for nuclear solutions, states create new risks and fuel the dynamics of the arms race.”
According to the researchers, Europe is taking on an increasingly active role in this arms race. “In the past year alone, we have seen the beginnings of an expansion of the nuclear burden-sharing partnership involving France, the United Kingdom and several other countries, including Germany,” said Sipri expert Korda. One reason: doubts about the reliability of the USA.
According to Sipri estimates, Russia and the USA together have around 83 percent of all stored nuclear warheads (Russia: 5,420, USA: 5,042). After the end of the Cold War, the two countries initially gradually dismantled decommissioned warheads. As a result, the global stock of nuclear weapons gradually fell.
“This trend is likely to reverse in the coming years as the pace of disarmament slows while the deployment of new nuclear weapons increases,” the Sipri Institute reported. However, the modernization programs of both countries face planning and financial challenges, according to the researchers.
China is currently expanding its nuclear arsenal faster than any other country. At its military parade in 2025, the country presented several new nuclear systems and, according to Sipri estimates, now has a total of around 620 nuclear warheads.
More nuclear warheads in peak operational readiness
According to estimates by peace researchers, the nine nuclear weapons powers USA, Russia, Great Britain, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel had 12,187 nuclear warheads in January 2026. According to the researchers, around 9,745 of them were in military stocks for potential use.
According to the information, more than in the previous year – an estimated 4,012 pieces – were placed on rockets and aircraft. Between 2100 and 2200, ballistic missiles were kept at peak operational readiness – almost all of these warheads were in the possession of Russia or the USA and, to a lesser extent, Great Britain and France. After Great Britain left, France is now the only nuclear power in the EU. (sda/dpa)