The World’s Nuclear Weapons in 2019

Despite an overall decrease in the number of nuclear warheads, all nuclear weapon-possessing states continue to modernize their nuclear arsenals, reads the SIPRI Yearbook 2019, which assesses the current state of armaments, disarmament and international security. At the start of 2019, nine states—the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and...

Trump claims he canceled an airstrike against Iran at the very last minute

The first thing to say here is that we have no means to know what really happened.  At the very least, there are two possible hypotheses which could explain what took place: 1) a US provocation: it is quite possible that somebody in the US chain of command decided that Iran should be put under...

Modernization of World Nuclear Forces Continues Despite Overall Decrease in Number of Warheads

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) today launches the findings of SIPRI Yearbook 2019, which assesses the current state of armaments, disarmament and international security. ​​​​​​The modernization of nuclear forces continues SIPRI Governing Board Chair Ambassador Jan Eliasson, former Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, says: ‘A key finding is that despite an overall decrease in...

Russia Sides with Pakistan in South Asia’s Tit-for-Tat Missile Tests

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov staunchly defended Pakistan’s “sovereign right to take care of its security” amidst South Asia’s tit-for-tat missile tests, with this unprecedented statement not only signifying the strength of the Russian-Pakistani Strategic Partnership, but also potentially being a response to the Indian Ambassador to the US’ recent hint that his country will prioritize...

Fact Sheet: New Nuclear Cruise Missile

BACKGROUND The U.S. nuclear arsenal, which features a triad of nuclear weapons on bombers, land-based ballistic missiles, and submarines, will be going through an extensive and expensive modernization plan costing up to $1 trillion over the next three decades. The Pentagon plans to update all three legs of the triad by building new nuclear submarines, new penetrating...