India's nuclear arsenal tops Pakistan as SIPRI reports global arms buildup

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s Yearbook 2026 shows all nine nuclear‑armed states are modernising and expanding their arsenals, raising the risk of escalation to levels not seen since the Cold War. The global stockpile stood at about 12,187 warheads in January 2026, with roughly 9,745 in military stockpiles and 4,012 deployed. Most high‑alert warheads remain with the United States and Russia.

India’s arsenal is now estimated at 190 warheads, giving it a lead of about 20 over Pakistan’s 170. New Delhi is focusing on longer‑range missiles capable of striking deep into China, while both neighbours integrated cyber operations for the first time during the severe May 2025 “Operation Sindoor” crisis. Pakistan continues modernising its delivery systems and fissile material base.

China is the fastest expanding nuclear power, reaching roughly 620 warheads and adding about 100 each year since 2023. The report notes a shift in doctrine: nuclear weapons are increasingly seen as usable tools of coercion rather than last‑resort options. Arms‑control agreements are eroding, with the New START treaty effectively suspended and no new trilateral talks involving China underway. "Influential voices, including some world leaders, are advocating nuclear weapons as a guarantee against attack," said SIPRI director Karim Haggag.

The institute warns that the pace of dismantlement by the United States and Russia is slowing, and new warhead production could soon outstrip removals, heightening global nuclear risk.