Record-Breaking $91.4 Billion Spent on Nuclear Weapons in 2023: US Leads the Way, China Rapidly Expanding Arsenal

Beijing, China China
China invested $11.8 billion in its arsenal and is rapidly expanding its capabilities.
Global nuclear weapons spending reached a record high of $91.4 billion in 2023.
Russia had a budget of $8.3 billion for nuclear weapons.
The United Kingdom spent $8.1 billion, France $7.6 billion, India $2.9 billion, Israel $2.5 billion, Pakistan $1.4 billion, and North Korea's spending is unknown.
The United States spent $51.5 billion on nuclear weapons, the largest portion of the increase.
Record-Breaking $91.4 Billion Spent on Nuclear Weapons in 2023: US Leads the Way, China Rapidly Expanding Arsenal

According to recent reports from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), global spending on nuclear weapons reached a record high of $91.4 billion in 2023. This represents an increase of 13% compared to the previous year. The United States accounted for the largest portion of this increase, with a budget of $51.5 billion dedicated to nuclear weapons.

China, the second largest spender on nuclear weapons, invested $11.8 billion in its arsenal last year. Russia followed closely behind with a budget of $8.3 billion.

The United Kingdom spent $8.1 billion on its nuclear weapons program, while France, India, Israel, Pakistan, and North Korea collectively spent $11.6 billion.

Despite the increasing spending on nuclear weapons by various countries, there is growing resistance to these arms globally. The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) has warned about the dangers of a new arms race and defiance of the spirit of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

China, in particular, is undergoing a significant expansion of its nuclear capabilities. The country had maintained a relatively small arsenal of about 200 warheads but has been shoring up that stockpile rapidly in recent years. According to SIPRI's report, China could have as many intercontinental ballistic missiles as the United States or Russia by 2030.

The expansion of nuclear arsenals comes amid geopolitical tensions and conflicts around the world, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war. These developments have raised international anxiety about nuclear conflict risks due to Russia's increasingly aggressive behavior.

G7 leaders have condemned Russia's blatant breach of international law and threats of nuclear weapons use. Notable holdouts at a recent Ukrainian peace conference included India, Indonesia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa.

ICAN Executive Director Melissa Parke has warned about the risks of nuclear conflict due to these tensions. She noted that $335 billion in outstanding contracts are related to nuclear weapons work.

Despite the growing concerns and spending on nuclear weapons, there is also a notable upward trend in global resistance to these arms. The world's nine nuclear-armed states spent a combined total of $91.4 billion last year, or nearly $3,000 per second.


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Confidence

85%

Doubts
  • The exact number of nuclear warheads each country possesses is not mentioned in the article.

Sources

80%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

China pursuing ‘significant’ expansion of nuclear arsenal, report says

The Fixing Site: A Summary of the Article. Bryan Pietsch Sunday, 16 June 2024 22:05
  • Unique Points
    • China is undergoing a significant expansion of its nuclear capabilities, according to a new global analysis of nuclear weapons.
    • China had for years maintained a relatively small arsenal of about 200 warheads but has been shoring up that stockpile very quickly in recent years.
  • Accuracy
    • China may have as many intercontinental ballistic missiles as the United States or Russia by 2030.
    • China's military stockpile grew from 410 nuclear warheads last year to 500 as of January.
    • Beijing denies that it is in the middle of a major nuclear buildup, but based on the current trajectory, it could have more than 700 warheads by 2027 and 1,000 by the end of the decade.
  • Deception (30%)
    The article makes several statements that are selectively reporting information and sensationalizing the topic. The author states that China may have as many intercontinental ballistic missiles as the United States or Russia by 2030, but fails to mention that this is an estimate from a report and not a confirmed fact. The article also implies that China's expansion of its nuclear arsenal is significant and dangerous, without providing any context or explanation as to why this is the case. Additionally, the author quotes experts who make assertions about China's intentions and goals without providing any evidence to support these claims.
    • Beijing is expanding its nuclear arsenal faster than any other country
    • China may have as many intercontinental ballistic missiles as the United States or Russia by 2030
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The author makes an appeal to authority by quoting multiple experts and reports on China's nuclear expansion. However, the author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing China's expansion as a 'significant' and 'quiet buildup'. This language is not based on any specific evidence presented in the article, but rather an interpretation of the data.
    • ][Hans M. Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists nonprofit group and an associate senior fellow with SIPRI] said in a statement that China was 'expanding its nuclear arsenal faster than any other country'.[[1](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/06/16/china-nuclear-arsenal-weapons/)], [[Pranay Vaddi, a National Security Council official who specializes in nuclear weapons]] warned that the United States might need to deploy a greater arsenal of nuclear weapons if rivals such as Russia and China continue on this path.
    • [China] is expanding its nuclear arsenal faster than any other country[[1](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/06/16/china-nuclear-arsenal-weapons/)], [The United States might need to deploy a greater arsenal of nuclear weapons if rivals such as Russia and China continue on this path[[1](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/06/16/china-nuclear-arsenal-weapons/)].
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

92%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Spending on nuclear weapons hit $91.4 billion in 2023, watchdog finds

Voice of America Lisa Schlein Monday, 17 June 2024 09:23
  • Unique Points
    • The United States accounted for 80% of the increase in spending compared to 2022.
    • The United States spent $51.5 billion on nuclear weapons, more than all other nuclear-armed countries combined.
  • Accuracy
    • China is undergoing a significant expansion of its nuclear capabilities
    • China may have as many intercontinental ballistic missiles as the United States or Russia by 2030
    • China had for years maintained a relatively small arsenal of about 200 warheads but has been shoring up that stockpile very quickly in recent years
    • Beijing denies that it is in the middle of a major nuclear buildup, but based on the current trajectory, it could have more than 700 warheads by 2027 and 1,000 by the end of the decade
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains an appeal to authority and inflammatory rhetoric. It also dichotomously depicts nuclear weapons as wholly negative without considering counterarguments.
    • Alicia Sanders-Zakre, co-author of the report, told journalists in Geneva last week in advance of the report’s publication.
    • The authors of the report say companies involved in the production of nuclear weapons received new contracts worth just less than $7.9 billion in 2023.
    • International anxiety about an accidental or deliberate tactical nuclear attack by Russia was on display this past weekend at the G7 summit in Italy and at the peace summit for Ukraine in Switzerland.
  • Bias (95%)
    The author expresses a clear anti-nuclear weapons stance and uses language that depicts nuclear spending as 'wasted' and 'threatening people wherever they live'. She also quotes Alicia Sanders-Zakre making similar statements. The article also mentions the potential negative impacts of nuclear spending on climate change, biodiversity, and pollution.
    • All this money is not improving global security. In fact, it is threatening people wherever they live.
      • For example, she said, $91.4 billion a year could pay for wind power for more than 12 million homes to combat climate change or cover 27 percent of the global funding gap to fight climate change, protect biodiversity and cut pollution.
        • This money is effectively being wasted given that the nuclear-armed states agree that a nuclear war can never be won and should never be fought.
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication

        98%

        The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
        (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

        A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

        China expanding its nuclear arsenal: Report

        The Hill News Site: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate-seethe-republicans-call-for-israeli-elections/ Nick Robertson Monday, 17 June 2024 02:42
        • Unique Points
          • Chinese nuclear arsenal is expanding rapidly according to a report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
          • China is believed to be deploying warheads during peacetime for the first time
          • The Chinese arsenal of active intercontinental nuclear missiles could grow to match American and Russian armaments by 2030
          • China invested about six percent of its budget into defense in 2024, the 29th consecutive year that its defense budget has increased
        • Accuracy
          • The number of operational nuclear warheads globally is increasing every year, with China having the most rapidly-increasing stockpile
          • China's operational nuclear warheads grew from 410 to about 500 in 2023
        • Deception (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Fallacies (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Bias (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication

        93%

        The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
        (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

        A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

        Global spending on nuclear weapons up 13% in record rise

        theguardian.com Article URL: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/13/ pakistan-·coalition-·agrees-to-form-government Dan Sabbagh Monday, 17 June 2024 04:00
        • Unique Points
          • Global nuclear weapons spending increased by 13% to a record $91.4bn in 2023.
          • US nuclear weapons budget increased by 45% over the past five years.
          • UK nuclear weapons budget increased by 43% over the past five years.
        • Accuracy
          • China is the second largest spender on nuclear weapons with a budget of $11.9bn.
          • Russia possesses about 4,380 nuclear warheads compared to US’s 3,708.
          • Nuclear spending has soared by 34%, or $23.2bn, over the past five years.
        • Deception (80%)
          The article provides clear and factual information about the increase in global spending on nuclear weapons. However, there are instances of emotional manipulation and selective reporting that lower the score. The author uses phrases like 'These billions could have been used for combating climate change and saving animals and plants that sustain life on Earth from extinction' to elicit an emotional response from readers. Additionally, the article focuses on the increase in spending by specific countries without mentioning other significant factors such as inflation or economic growth. This selective reporting skews the reader's perception of the issue.
          • We have not seen nuclear weapons playing such a prominent role in international relations since the cold war.
          • These billions could have been used for combating climate change and saving animals and plants that sustain life on Earth from extinction, not to mention improving health and education services around the world.
          • Russia is estimated to have deployed about 36 more warheads with operational forces than in January 2023.
        • Fallacies (95%)
          The article contains some instances of appeals to authority and inflammatory rhetoric, but no formal or blatant logical fallacies are present. The author quotes experts and organizations such as the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri), providing credible sources for the information presented in the article.
          • ]The new total, which is up $10.7bn from the previous year, is driven largely by sharply increased defence budgets in the US[.
          • All nine of the world’s nuclear armed nations are spending more[.
          • Russia is judged to be the third largest spender with a budget of $8.3bn[.
          • Spending by the US increased by 45% during that time and by 43% in the UK[.
          • Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, has referred repeatedly to his country’s nuclear arsenal to warn the west of a direct military intervention in Ukraine since launching the full-scale invasion in February 2022[.
          • We have not seen nuclear weapons playing such a prominent role in international relations since the cold war[.
        • Bias (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication