Sipri reports rise in deployable nuclear warheads despite overall stockpile dip

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri) warned that while the total global count of nuclear warheads fell slightly from 12,241 at the start of 2025 to 12,187 in early 2026, the number of warheads ready for military use rose from 9,614 to 9,745 – an increase of 131.

Sipri noted that about 2,100‑2,200 warheads are in high‑readiness on ballistic missiles, almost exclusively belonging to the United States and Russia. The nine declared nuclear powers – the US, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel – continued modernising and expanding their arsenals, with smaller deployments also reported for France and the United Kingdom and emerging activity in China and India.

German officials reacted to the report. Federal Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan said "deterrence against aggressors is indispensable, but relying solely on armament is short‑sighted," while Left Party leader Sören Pellmann criticised the government for insufficient disarmament efforts and called for new European arms‑control treaties. Sipri concluded that the growing role of nuclear weapons poses a dangerous escalation risk for international security.