January 17, 2025, New Delhi According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) 2025 report, the world's nine nuclear-armed states—the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel—were engaged in modernizing and expanding their nuclear arsenals in 2024. This trend poses a serious threat to global security, especially in regions like India and Pakistan where a misunderstanding or accident could bring disaster. Number of nuclear weapons (January 2025) US: 5,177 weapons (90% of global stockpile with Russia) Russia: 5,459 weapons, 36 new deployments (from 2023) China: 600 weapons, 100 annual increase (from 2023), 350 new ICBM silos France: 290 weapons, work on new submarines and cruise missiles UK: 225 weapons, future increase planned India: 180 weapons, 8 more (172 from 2023), long-range missiles ready Pakistan: 170 weapons, new delivery systems and increased nuclear material North Korea: 50-58 weapons, capacity to make 40 more Israel: 90 weapons, missile technology and Demona reactor upgrade Global nuclear stockpile: Total: 12,241 weapons In military stockpile: 9,614 Deployments on missiles/ships: 3,912 High On alert: 2,100 (mostly from Russia and the US, including China) Key points China’s acceleration: China is the fastest growing nuclear arsenal. It could have ICBMs like Russia or the US by the end of the decade, but the total number will remain small. India’s strategy: India has developed 8 new weapons, new “canisterized” missiles that could be deployed in the cold war. Emphasis on targeting China in addition to Pakistan. Pakistan’s readiness: Pakistan has developed new delivery systems with 170 weapons. Conflict with India in early 2025 raises the risk of a nuclear crisis. Arms race: The post-Cold War trend of nuclear weapons decline is ending. The development of new weapons and the lack of arms control agreements are dangerous. New technologies: AI, cyber, and space technologies are complicating nuclear strategies, increasing the risk of wrong decisions. China's nuclear policy: China claims to have a minimal nuclear capability for national security, but its rapidly growing number is a cause for concern. Russia-US tensions: The New START treaty expires in 2026. If a new agreement is not reached, the two countries Deployments could increase weapons. Regional threats: India-Pakistan conflict, East Asia, and the Middle East The debate over nuclear weapons is intensifying. The conclusion of the SIPRI report is a wake-up call for world leaders. Urgent diplomatic efforts and arms control agreements are needed to stop the nuclear arms race. Confidence-building measures in countries like India and Pakistan could reduce the risk of conflicts escalating into nuclear crises.