Latest news with #HansM.Kristensen
Saudi Gazette
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Era of nuclear disarmament coming to an end, SIPRI warns
STOCKHOLM — The era of nuclear disarmament is coming to an end while new technologies push the risk of nuclear conflict higher, SIPRI warned on Monday. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) stressed in its annual assessment of the state of armaments, disarmament and international security, that although the number of nuclear warheads in the world continued to decline last year due to the US and Russia dismantling retired warheads, the pace of such dismantlements is slowing down. The rate at which new warheads enter global stockpiles could therefore soon outpace dismantlements, SIPRI said, as nuclear states pursue modernisation programmes. "The era of reductions in the number of nuclear weapons in the world, which had lasted since the end of the Cold War, is coming to an end," Hans M. Kristensen, Associate Senior Fellow with SIPRI's Weapons of Mass Destruction Program said in a statement. "Instead, we see a clear trend of growing nuclear arsenals, sharpened nuclear rhetoric and the abandonment of arms control agreements," he added. Nine countries - the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and Israel - have nuclear warheads in their arsenals with an estimated global inventory of 12,241 warheads, of which 9,614 were in military stockpiles for potential use. Just over 2,000 of the deployed warheads, nearly all of them belonging to the US and Russia, were kept in a state of high operational alert on ballistic missiles. The two countries faced challenges in their modernization programs last year, but SIPRI forecasts that their deployments of nuclear weapons will rise in the years ahead. China's nuclear arsenal, which currently counts at least 600 warheads, is meanwhile growing faster than any other country's, by about 100 new warheads a year since 2023. SIPRI estimates that China could potentially have at least as many Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) as either Russia or the USA by the turn of the decade. The international security institute also flagged that 2024 saw renewed attention on nuclear-sharing arrangements, which it says carried great risks. These included claims by Russia and Belarus that Russia has deployed nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory, European NATO allies expressing willingness to host US nuclear weapons on their soil, and statements by French President Emmanuel Macron that the country's nuclear deterrent could have a "European dimension". "It is critical to remember that nuclear weapons do not guarantee security," said Matt Korda, associate senior researcher with SIPRI's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme. "As the recent flare-up of hostilities in India and Pakistan amply demonstrated, nuclear weapons do not prevent conflict. They also come with immense risks of escalation and catastrophic miscalculation—particularly when disinformation is rife—and may end up making a country's population less safe, not more." The increased use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other technologies to speed up decision-making in crises meanwhile increases the risk of a nuclear conflict breaking out as a result of miscommunication, misunderstanding or technical accident, according to SIPRI. The annual report, which looks at the overall armament picture, found that global military expenditure rose for the 10th consecutive year in 2024 to $2.7 trillion (€2.3 trillion), driven by Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Washington however remained the largest military spender in the world, with spending of $997 billion (€861 billion) in 2024, more than three times the amount spent by China, the next biggest spender. Total European spending increased by 17%, with all countries, bar Malta, boosting their military expenditures. Just five countries - the United States, France, Russia, China and Germany - accounted for 71% of all military exports with the US growing its share to 43% from 35% at the turn of the decade. — Euronews
Euronews
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Era of nuclear disarmament 'coming to an end', SIPRI warns
The era of nuclear disarmament is coming to an end while new technologies push the risk of nuclear conflict higher, SIPRI warned on Monday. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) stressed in its annual assessment of the state of armaments, disarmament and international security, that although the number of nuclear warheads in the world continued to decline last year due to the US and Russia dismantling retired warheads, the pace of such dismantlements is slowing down. The rate at which new warheads enter global stockpiles could therefore soon outpace dismantlements, SIPRI said, as nuclear states pursue modernisation programmes. "The era of reductions in the number of nuclear weapons in the world, which had lasted since the end of the Cold War, is coming to an end," Hans M. Kristensen, Associate Senior Fellow with SIPRI's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme said in a statement. "Instead, we see a clear trend of growing nuclear arsenals, sharpened nuclear rhetoric and the abandonment of arms control agreements," he added. Nine countries - the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and Israel - have nuclear warheads in their arsenals with an estimated global inventory of 12,241 warheads, of which 9,614 were in military stockpiles for potential use. Just over 2,000 of the deployed warheads, nearly all of them belonging to the US and Russia, were kept in a state of high operational alert on ballistic missiles. The two countries faced challenges in their modernisation programmes last year, but SIPRI forecasts that their deployments of nuclear weapons will rise in the years ahead. China's nuclear arsenal, which currently counts at least 600 warheads, is meanwhile growing faster than any other country's, by about 100 new warheads a year since 2023. SIPRI estimates that China could potentially have at least as many Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) as either Russia or the USA by the turn of the decade. The international security institute also flagged that 2024 saw renewed attention on nuclear-sharing arrangements, which it says carried great risks. These included claims by Russia and Belarus that Russia has deployed nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory, European NATO allies expressing willingness to host US nuclear weapons on their soil, and statements by French President Emmanuel Macron that the country's nuclear deterrent could have a "European dimension". "It is critical to remember that nuclear weapons do not guarantee security," said Matt Korda, associate senior researcher with SIPRI's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme. "As the recent flare-up of hostilities in India and Pakistan amply demonstrated, nuclear weapons do not prevent conflict. They also come with immense risks of escalation and catastrophic miscalculation—particularly when disinformation is rife—and may end up making a country's population less safe, not more." The increased use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other technologies to speed up decision-making in crises meanwhile increases the risk of a nuclear conflict breaking out as a result of miscommunication, misunderstanding or technical accident, according to SIPRI. The annual report, which looks at the overall armament picture, found that global military expenditure rose for the 10th consecutive year in 2024 to $2.7 trillion (€2.3 trillion), driven by Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Washington however remained the largest military spender in the world, with spending of $997 billion (€861 billion) in 2024, more than three times the amount spent by China, the next biggest spender. Total European spending increased by 17%, with all countries, bar Malta, boosting their military expenditures. Just five countries - the United States, France, Russia, China and Germany - accounted for 71% of all military exports with the US growing its share to 43% from 35% at the turn of the decade. Ukraine, India, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan together accounted for 35% of total arms imports. A new study names France as the continent's toll fee capital, with French routes claiming the top spot and five of the 10 most expensive tolls in Europe. Italy and Denmark follow closely, with toll fees of €68.30 and €54.00, respectively. A study by the European tollway seller, Tollwayr, analysed toll fees across European countries, examining costs for various motorways, tunnels and bridges to identify the most expensive routes for car drivers. France leads the list with the Eurotunnel crossing between France and the UK charging €72.00, making it the most expensive toll in Europe. The country also appears in the top five positions with its major motorway routes, including the Paris-Marseille route at €68.90. "What's particularly notable is that France doesn't just have one or two expensive routes – it consistently charges premium prices across its major highways and tunnels," said Mattijs Wijnmalen, CEO of Tollwayr. "The country's extensive toll network reflects significant infrastructure investment, but also places a considerable financial burden on both local drivers and tourists." Italy ranks high on the list, with the Milan-Bari route costing drivers €68.30, making it the third most expensive toll in Europe. Denmark and Sweden both feature in the top ten, with the Øresundsbron bridge connecting the two countries, charging €54.00 from either side, making it the most expensive bridge toll in Europe. Croatia, while not in the top ten, has the most expensive tolls in Eastern Europe, charging €32.80. On the other hand, the United Kingdom's Warburton Bridge charges just €0.14, making it the least expensive toll in Europe, while Bosnia and Herzegovina's Svilaj-Odžak section costs only €0.61 for cars.
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Nuclear weapons increasing as Russia-Ukraine war, Israel-Iran conflict reignites the prospects of World War III
As Russia and Ukraine continue to engage in a bloody and bruising war and the Middle East teeters on the edge of a disastrous conflict with nuclear undertones, the world is rapidly spiralling towards a potential World War III . Russia is the world's most heavily nuclear armed power while Israel, which has opened multiple fronts in the Middle East with the latest target being Iran, is a covert nuke state. Apart from Russia and Israel, there are seven other nuclear-armed countries - the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). According to a Stockholm International Peace Research Institute ( SIPRI ) report, all the nine nations have gone ahead with modernization of their nuclear program in 2024. Some of the countries have added a large number of nukes including upgrading of the existing weapons along with developing newer and more lethal versions. Nuclear warheads with each country The report states that in January 2025, there were an estimated 12,241 nuclear war heads in possession of the nine countries mentioned above with about 9,614 of them with the militaries for use. The nuclear armed countries had 3,912 nuclear weapons deployed for immediate use on their missiles and combat aircraft, while the remaining were stored away. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like NVDA: What's Next After the Selloff? Seeking Alpha Read Now Undo Russia and the US have the maximum number of deployed nuclear weapons. The SIPRI report claims that a small number of the deployed warheads may also belong to China. A total of about 2,100 warheads are mounted on missiles for immediate firing. While the world saw Russia and the US retiring and dismantling a large number of nuclear weapons since the end of the Cold War in 1991, the trend seems to be reversing with new weapons being developed and deployed at a rapid pace which is likely to quicken in the coming years. Live Events World nuclear forces, January 2025 Deployed Stored Military Stockpile Retired Total USA 1 770 1 930 3 700 1 477 5 177 Russia 1 718 2 591 4 309 1 150 5 459 UK 120 105 225 - 225 France 280 10 290 - 290 China 24 576 600 - 600 India - 180 180 - 180 Pakistan - 170 170 - 170 North Korea - 50 50 - 50 Israel - 90 90 - 90 "The era of reductions in the number of nuclear weapons in the world, which had lasted since the end of the cold war, is coming to an end. Instead, we see a clear trend of growing nuclear arsenals, sharpened nuclear rhetoric and the abandonment of arms control agreements," noted Hans M. Kristensen, Associate Senior Fellow with SIPRI's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme and Director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS). Russia and the US had in 2010 entered into the Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (New START) which expires in February 2026. As the former in involved in a conflict with Ukraine and the US tied up behind the scenes in both the Europe and Middle East wars, the prospects of the treaty getting an extension or a new deal is extremely bleak. As part of their modernization program, both sides could rearm more missiles with multiple warheads as well as reactivate silos from which nukes were pulled out earlier. New non-strategic nuclear weapons by both and the development of new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) like Sarmat by Russia could result in increase in the nukes. China's nukes China's rapid development of nuclear weapons could force the US to adopt a tit-for-tat approach bring the memories of the Cold War era back. SIPRI estimates that China, the world's third largest nuclear power with 600 warheads, is growing its arsenal at rapid pace. . The country is estimated to have added 200 warheads since 2023. China has six major nuclear missile silos spread across the cold deserts in its north and mountains of the east with an estimated capacity of 350 ICBMs. Its pace of ICBM deployment is accelerating, and China could match Russia and the US in deploying nuke-armed missiles before the end of 2030. Painting a rather alarming picture, SIPRI reports that China can have 1,500 warheads by 2035, still only about one third of each of the current Russian and US nuclear stockpiles. Europe prepares for nuclear war Even since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, the United Kingdom and France have advocated for a larger nuclear weapon stockpile with the former also speaking about expanding its nuclear umbrella to the rest of Europe if the US decides to pull back as its President Donald Trump has said on multiple occasions. The UK's Integrated Review Refresh in 2023 speaks for increasing the number of warheads. The country may go for four more nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) along with maintaining the continuous at-sea nuclear deterrence, and delivering 'all the needed upgrades'. Similarly, France is going ahead with developing a third-generation SSBN and a new air-launched cruise missile. It is also upgrading its existing arsenal and delivery systems. India now has 180 nuclear warhead, at least 10 more than Pakistan. India is developing new canisterized missiles with Multiple Independently targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) capabilities. Pakistan, too, has been with China and North Korea's help modernizing its nuclear warheads. 'The combination of strikes on nuclear-related military infrastructure and third-party disinformation risked turning a conventional conflict into a nuclear crisis,' said Matt Korda, Associate Senior Researcher with SIPRI's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme and Associate Director for the Nuclear Information Project at FAS. 'This should act as a stark warning for states seeking to increase their reliance on nuclear weapons.' North Korea has been developing its nuclear warheads as well as missiles with longer range to target the US mainland. The country is estimated to have 50 warheads with SIPRI reporting enough fissile material to produce up to 40 more nukes as well as on course to develop a tactical nuclear weapon. Israel has never admitted openly to having nuclear weapons but is likely to be in possession of 90 warheads. It is upgrading its plutonium production reactor site at Dimona while in 2024 the country also test-fired a missile propulsion system that could be related to its Jericho family of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles.
