Geneva, June 9 (SANA) Global expenditure on nuclear arsenals climbed to a record $119 billion in 2025, marking a sharp 19% increase year-on-year, according to a new report by the International Campaign to Abolish nuclear weapons (ICAN), which warns that current trends could lock the world into a prolonged nuclear arms race.
Global nuclear spending surges into $119bn in 2025 amid new arms race fears
The report, published on Tuesday and cited via Agency France-Presse, says the nine nuclear-armed states—United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom, France, India, Israel, Pakistan and North Korea—collectively boosted spending by roughly $17 billion compared with 2024, reflecting intensified modernization of delivery systems, warheads and infrastructure.
ICAN cautions that rising geopolitical friction, combined with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, is increasing the risk environment surrounding nuclear command and control systems. The organization describes the trajectory as potentially sustained over decades, driven by long-term procurement and upgrade cycles.
Parallel assessments from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute indicate that global nuclear inventories remain extremely high, with an estimated 12,000+ warheads worldwide. While overall stockpiles have slightly declined over time, SIPRI researchers stress that operational deployment patterns and readiness levels are becoming more pronounced, heightening strategic instability.
The United States remains the dominant spender, allocating about $69.2 billion in 2025—more than all other nuclear powers combined. China follows with $13.5 billion, the United Kingdom with $12.6 billion, and Russia with $9.5 billion, underscoring widening disparities in modernization pacing and strategic priorities.
ICAN further highlights that over the past five years, nuclear-armed states have spent more than $470 billion on their arsenals. Several countries, including the US, UK, and France, are now committed to multi-decade modernization programs extending into the next century, including next-generation missile systems and warhead life-extension projects.
Beyond strategic concerns, the report underscores the opportunity costs of such spending, arguing that even a single day of global nuclear expenditure could have supported basic food security for millions or funded large-scale humanitarian operations. ICAN frames the trend as a structural policy choice prioritizing long-term deterrence over social and developmental investment.
kA.MZ
