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Global nuclear weapons spending hits record $119 billion; US outspends others
๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ณ Vietnam /Conflict & Security

Global nuclear weapons spending hits record $119 billion; US outspends others

From Tuแป•i Trแบป · () Vietnamese

Translated from Vietnamese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Nine nuclear-armed states spent a record $119 billion on their arsenals last year, a 19% increase from 2024, according to a report by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.
  • The report warns of a new era of nuclear competition amid rising geopolitical tensions, with the world's nuclear warhead stockpile still substantial and the number of deployable warheads increasing.
  • This spending is particularly concerning given global humanitarian crises, as the cost of one day of nuclear weapons expenditure could feed over 2 million people.

Global spending on nuclear weapons reached a record $119 billion last year, a significant increase driven by escalating geopolitical tensions. Nine nuclear-armed nations, including the United States, Russia, and China, collectively spent this sum, marking a 19% rise from the previous year, according to a report released by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN).

The world is entering a new phase of nuclear competition amid increasing geopolitical tensions.

โ€” International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)The report by ICAN warns about the current state of global nuclear arms.

The report highlights a worrying trend: while the total number of nuclear warheads worldwide has slightly decreased, the number of warheads ready for deployment has grown. This suggests a heightened, tangible risk of nuclear conflict. Experts note that the weakening of arms control mechanisms and intensified competition among major powers are contributing to this dangerous escalation.

Amidst this growing threat, the United States leads global spending by a wide margin, allocating $69.2 billion to its nuclear programs. China follows with $13.5 billion, then the United Kingdom at $12.6 billion, and Russia at $9.5 billion. The ICAN report projects these investments will continue for decades, with the U.S. alone expected to spend nearly $1 trillion on its nuclear forces between 2025 and 2034. Some new systems, like the U.S. Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile, are anticipated to remain operational beyond the year 2100.

The risk of nuclear use is increasing due to the weakening of arms control mechanisms and increasingly fierce competition among major powers.

โ€” Karim HaggagThe Director of SIPRI commented on the rising nuclear risks.

Researchers find this massive investment in nuclear arsenals especially alarming, given the world's current humanitarian crises. The report points out that the funds spent on nuclear weapons for just one day last year could have provided food security for over 2 million people globally. This stark contrast underscores the critical debate between military spending and pressing global needs.

Just one day of spending on nuclear weapons last year would have been enough to ensure food security for more than 2 million people worldwide.

โ€” International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)ICAN highlighted the opportunity cost of nuclear weapons expenditure.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tuแป•i Trแบป in Vietnamese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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