Global nuclear weapons spending hits record $119 billion in 2025

A report by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) shows that nine nuclear‑armed states spent nearly $119 billion on nuclear programmes in 2025, a 19% rise from the previous year. The United States led the spending with $69.2 billion, followed by China ($13.5 billion), the United Kingdom ($12.6 billion) and Russia ($9.5 billion). Together the United States' outlay exceeds the combined spend of all other nuclear powers.

Although the total number of nuclear warheads worldwide has fallen to about 12,187, the count of warheads ready for immediate deployment has risen to roughly 9,745, indicating heightened risk. Analysts warn that modernization efforts, the introduction of new systems such as the U.S. Sentinel ICBM, and the potential use of artificial‑intelligence technologies are amplifying the danger of a new nuclear arms race. China is noted as the fastest‑expanding nuclear capability, while the United States is projected to invest up to $1 trillion in its nuclear forces between 2025 and 2034.