Global Nuclear Spending Hits $91B in 2023

In 2023, nuclear powers ramped up their arsenal spending by one-third over five years in response to escalating global tensions.

On Monday, ICAN reported that nine nuclear states—Russia, the USA, France, India, China, Israel, the UK, Pakistan, and North Korea—spent $91 billion collectively.

Another report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) confirmed these upgrades and new deployments.

ICAN’s director, Melissa Parke, highlighted an intensifying nuclear arms race, unseen since the Cold War.

SIPRI’s Wilfred Wan noted a slight dip in global nuclear warheads, from 12,512 to 12,121. However, operational warheads rose to 9,585, with 2,100 poised for immediate launch.

Russia and the USA hold 90% of these warheads. SIPRI revealed China now keeps some warheads ready for use.

SIPRI’s director, Dan Smith, emphasized that while total warheads decreased, operational counts rise annually.

ICAN marked a $10.8 billion increase in nuclear spending over the last year. The USA led with $51.5 billion, followed by China’s $11.8 billion and Russia’s $8.3 billion.

Overall, nuclear spending reached $2,898 per second, totaling $387 billion since 2018, up 33% from $68.2 billion.

Parke criticized the massive public fund usage, contrasting it with global needs like hunger relief and environmental restoration, suggesting the funds could plant a million trees per minute instead.