Report: Nuclear weapon spending reaches record high

Global expenditures on nuclear weapons surged to a record high of $119 billion in 2025, marking a significant 19% increase compared to the previous year, according to a new report released by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN).

ICAN, a coalition of non-governmental organizations dedicated to the elimination of nuclear weapons and a recipient of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize, highlighted that these figures represent the highest annual spending since the organization began tracking them in 2020. The report details the financial commitments of the world's nine nuclear-armed states: Russia, the United States, China, France, the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea.

The United States was the largest contributor to this surge, accounting for more than half of the total global expenditure. In 2025, the U.S. spent $69.2 billion on its nuclear arsenal, a 22% increase from its 2024 spending levels. This substantial rise underscores a growing investment in nuclear capabilities among major world powers.

The report's findings come at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, suggesting a potential arms race or a renewed focus on nuclear deterrence by nations possessing these weapons. The increase in spending by multiple nuclear powers raises concerns among disarmament advocates about global security and the ongoing threat posed by nuclear proliferation.