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Teathat is the united states Resume nuclear weapons testing “immediately”Donald Trump has announced fears of renewed proliferation between the world’s two largest stockpiles of nuclear weapons.
Since returning to the White House in January, the US President has sought to outwardly reconcile US-Russia relations, but Continuous provocation from Moscow continued Pressure has been put on Washington to change its stance.
Between them, Russia and America Maintains 87 percent of the world’s total inventory of nuclear weaponsA hangover from the Cold War arms race. Many have been taken apart, although they remain relatively intact.
Of the 9,614 weapons believed to be in military stockpiles around the world today, about 2,100 American, Russian, British and French weapons are believed to be on high alert and ready for use at short notice, according to the Federation of American Scientists, a US think tank.
The number of operational warheads has declined significantly from the 70,000 deployed at the peak of the Cold War. But renewed nuclear attacks and Russia’s recent withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty have raised fears of a new arms race.
Nine countries currently possess nuclear weapons – informally known as the “nuclear club”. But nations generally refuse to confirm the exact number of weapons in their stockpiles for security reasons; The exact figures are based on expert estimates and the best available information.
Which countries have the most nuclear weapons?
1. Russia
While Trump insists that the US has “more nuclear weapons than any other country”, it is generally believed that Russia has the largest arsenal in the world today.
The Federation of American Scientists, collecting information on estimated global reserves, informed This year Russia had about 4,459 missiles. Of these, 1,718 strategic weapons were deployed, meaning they are ready for use and already deployed for delivery by air, land or sea. The lion’s share, 2,591, were held in reserve or not actively deployed.
The remaining 1,150 have retired. Both the US and Russia are still destroying already depleted weapons, having accumulated a lot of them during the Cold War.
These figures are estimates, as exact numbers and deployments are often kept secret. According to the Stockholm Peace Institute, Putin had 6,255 nuclear weapons as of January 2021. But other organizations that monitor nuclear proliferation put the total at between 5,977 and 6,257.
Russia’s nuclear arsenal has declined overall in recent years, as the country inherited 35,000 warheads following the collapse of the USSR in 1991. Both Russia and the US signed the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), an arms control treaty that is effective on 5 February 2011. The treaty limits the number of deployed strategic nuclear weapons and bombs to 1,550.
In August, Russia decided to pull out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), by which the Soviet Union and the United States had agreed to reduce the number of strategic weapons possessed by both sides. The United States formally withdrew from the 1987 agreement in 2019, accusing Russia of violations. At the time, Russia insisted that it had complied with the treaty.
2. United States of America
The United States is reported to have a stockpile of 5,177 nuclear weapons, of which 1,670 are deployed, 1,930 are held in reserve or not deployed, and 1,477 are retired.
The weapons are deployed on ballistic missiles and bomber targets. Since the Cold War, some have also been deployed to bases across Europe.
The Federation of American Scientists reported in 2022 that Italy, Türkiye, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands were all hosting US nuclear weapons. Belarus was believed to be hosting Russian nuclear weapons.
To date, America is the only country to use the atomic bomb in war. On August 6, 1945, a uranium bomb was detonated in Hiroshima, Japan, killing an estimated 140,000 people. Three days later, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, killing more than 74,000 people.
3. China
Following the US and Russia, the number of nuclear weapons per country has declined dramatically. China ranks third on the list with 600 reserved or non-deployed weapons.
While the United States is reducing its numbers, China – as well as India, Pakistan, Russia, Britain and North Korea – is increasing its stockpiles.
The country first developed nuclear weapons during the Cold War and is expected to continue expanding its nuclear arsenal by adding 30 more after 2020.
The US fears that Beijing may have more than 1,000 weapons by 2030.
4. France
France’s nuclear weapons supply ranks fourth with 290 warheads, the largest number in Western Europe.
Most of those weapons are based on submarines, while the remainder are based on air-launched cruise missiles. The country first tested nuclear attack capability in 1960.
France claims it maintains a policy of “strict sufficiency”, strategically keeping its nuclear arsenal at the “lowest possible level”.
However, it has historically emphasized the importance of an independent nuclear capability.
France has also historically mentioned the possibility of a nuclear warning shot, allowing the use of a “small” nuclear explosion, perhaps over an uninhabited area, to be used as a deterrent.
Then-President Jacques Chirac speaking on French defense policy in 2006 Said While France’s policy was that “nuclear means may not be used for military purposes under any circumstances during a conflict”, France remained “willing and capable” of deploying nuclear weapons.
“Of course, we always reserve the right to use a final warning to demonstrate our determination to protect our vital interests,” he said.
5. United Kingdom
Britain, a leader in the field of nuclear energy and weapons after World War II, today has about 225 weapons.
The weapons are sea-based and are carried by Trident submarine-launched ballistic missiles purchased from the US.
Trident is operated by the Royal Navy and consists of four submarines, which are based at HM Naval Base Clyde in Scotland.
To date, the country has conducted 45 nuclear weapons tests, the most recent in 1991.
The UK announced in 2021 that it would no longer disclose its operating reserves. But in a vote in 2016 the Commons approved the decision to maintain the nuclear deterrent beyond the early 2030s.
Britain is expected to build four new Dreadnought-class ballistic missile submarines for entry into service from the early 2030s.
The transition to a new weapon is expected from the late 2030s.
6. India
With about 180 nuclear weapons, India has long been in an arms race with Pakistan.
However, recent relations with China have complicated nuclear weapons production.
Therefore, any move by India to modernize its nuclear weapons would be perceived as a threat by Pakistan, further provoking a nuclear arms race.
7. Pakistan
Pakistan has an estimated 170 nuclear weapons and counting.
The country’s strained relations with India heavily impact its nuclear weapons production rate.
Pakistan first began testing nuclear weapons in 1988, claiming national security reasons.
8. Israel
Israel is believed to possess 90 nuclear weapons, although it has never officially confirmed the existence of a nuclear program, deliberately maintaining “nuclear ambiguity”.
Although it is believed to have possessed such weapons since the 1960s, unlike other countries on the list, the country has never demonstrated its nuclear capability with a test.
9. North Korea
North Korea is believed to have the smallest number of nuclear weapons on the list, with 50, but it is a notoriously secretive nation.
The country agreed to a moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile testing in 2018 but resumed long-range missile testing in 2020.
Under leader Kim Jong Un, North Korea has frequently tested missiles over the Sea of Japan, raising concerns of an attack.
Kim has promised to expand both his country’s military and its nuclear arsenal.