The world’s nine nuclear-armed states have significantly increased their spending on nuclear weapons, reaching a total of $91.4 billion in 2023, according to a report by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). This represents a $10.7 billion increase from the previous year, with the United States accounting for 80% of the rise by investing $51.5 billion in modernizing its nuclear arsenal.
Despite the increase in spending, the number of operational nuclear warheads has actually decreased, according to a separate study by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). However, the total number of nuclear warheads around the world remains high, with Russia and the United States possessing almost 90% of all nuclear weapons.
ICAN, which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017, highlighted the profits associated with the nuclear arms industry, which incentivize manufacturers to spend millions on influencing government policy and public opinion on nuclear weapons. China was the second-largest spender after the US, with a budget of $11.8 billion, followed by Russia with $8.3 billion.
The other nuclear-armed states, including Britain, France, India, Israel, Pakistan, and North Korea, have also continued to modernize their arsenals. ICAN’s policy and research coordinator, Alicia Sanders-Zakre, emphasized the need for countries to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons to improve global security and prevent the misallocation of public funds on nuclear arms programs.
The ongoing increase in spending on nuclear weapons has raised concerns about the possibility of a nuclear arms race and the threat it poses to global security. As tensions continue to rise, it is crucial for countries to prioritize disarmament and non-proliferation efforts to ensure a safer world for future generations.