Long-Term Nuclear and Strategic Arms Competition Exhausts the World

 

The ongoing war in the Middle East and the escalating tensions in global politics have led major military powers to rapidly expand their nuclear capabilities. A report from The Washington Post states that China has been quickly increasing its nuclear arsenal and readiness for combat. The United States has claimed that China may have secretly conducted nuclear weapons tests. Seismic monitoring sensors detected two underground tremors that occurred about twelve seconds apart. U.S. sources say these tremors were likely intended to avoid detection by global monitoring systems. China has not officially addressed these claims.

At the same time, France has announced that it will expand its nuclear arsenal and will stop disclosing detailed information about its nuclear program or weapons capabilities. Analysts see these actions as indications of a renewed nuclear arms race and rising strategic competition.

Overall, statistics on ballistic missiles and nuclear warheads show that nations have significantly increased spending, research, and development on these weapons over the past four decades. In 2025, the United States allocated an estimated 120 to 145 billion dollars for nuclear weapons modernization, production, and management.

According to SIPRI (June 2025), nine countries own about 12,241 nuclear warheads. Approximately 9,614 of these are operational, while 2,672 are retired or no longer usable. The United States has around 1,477 retired warheads, while Russia holds roughly 1,150. Since no country reveals the exact size of its arsenal, most numbers come from estimates by defense think tanks and research institutions. Some nations may even exaggerate their capabilities for strategic reasons.

Russia is generally seen as the leader in strategic weapons. It is believed to have between 1,600 and 2,000 intermediate and long-range ballistic missiles, along with an estimated 5,459 nuclear and thermonuclear warheads. Among its most powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles is the RS-28 Sarmat (Satan-2), along with RS-24/26 and submarine-based Bulava missiles. International media have reported that Russia has used medium-range nuclear-capable “Oreshnik” missiles in Ukraine, though these claims are contested.

China, on the other hand, is estimated to have between 800 and 1,000 strategic missiles of various ranges, including the Dongfeng (DF) series of SRBMs, MRBMs, IRBMs, and modern ICBMs. Its nuclear warhead count is thought to be around 600.

The United States recently tested its powerful Minuteman-III ICBM, which has a range of 13,000 kilometers. As the world's leading military superpower, it has about 5,177 nuclear warheads and between 800 and 1,200 strategic ballistic missiles. These include silo-based Minuteman-III ICBMs and submarine-launched Trident-II D5 SLBMs, aimed primarily at potential adversaries such as Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. The U.S. Navy’s 14 Ohio-class nuclear submarines carry nearly 280 long-range SLBMs.

India, the largest military power in South Asia, possesses around 180 nuclear warheads and an estimated 550 to 600 strategic ballistic missiles. Its Agni-5 series, which has ranges between 5,000 and 8,000 kilometers, is particularly notable. On December 23, 2025, India successfully tested the submarine-based K-4 nuclear ballistic missile, which has a range of 3,500 kilometers.

Pakistan has about 170 nuclear warheads and 400 to 600 ballistic missiles, including the Shaheen, Ghauri, and Nasr series. Other nuclear-armed nations include the United Kingdom (225 warheads), France (290), Israel (around 90), and North Korea (about 50). 

Iran, while not a nuclear-armed state, has developed one of the largest ballistic missile arsenals in the world. It has recently deployed advanced missiles such as the Fattah-1/2 and Khorramshahr-4, with ranges of 1,400 to 2,000 kilometers, in combat. However, independent verification of their hypersonic capability remains disputed.

In conclusion, the nine nuclear-armed states together hold over 12,000 nuclear and thermonuclear warheads, along with thousands of ballistic missiles. As major powers invest more in these highly destructive weapons, concerns for global security and humanity’s future grow. If these weapons are ever used in conflict, the consequences would be devastating for civilization—something the world must work to prevent.

Sources: Wikipedia, SIPRI (June 2025)

(Based on international media reports and open-source defense analysis)

Author Bio:  

Sherazur Rahman  

Teacher & Writer  

Bangladesh