Latest news with #SIPRI
India.com
7 hours ago
- Politics
- India.com
Ongoing nuclear weapons race causing anxiety across the globe, not many experts know where they are hidden, scientists warn...
(Representational image: New Delhi: At present, the world is witnessing a lot of violence and bloodshed. The Ukraine war is not ending and the growing tension between Iran and Israel has created instability in the Middle East. Then another dangerous and invisible storm is slowly gaining momentum. This is the return of the nuclear arms race. But this time the matter is not limited to just making bombs. Now these dangerous weapons are being hidden. Let us know about it in detail. How many nuclear bombs in the world? According to a new report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), by the beginning of the year 2025, there are a total of 12,241 nuclear weapons in the world. Out of these, about 9,600 weapons are kept in ready condition for military use, that is, they can be used anytime. However, the most shocking thing here is that about 87 percent of these weapons are with only two countries, America and Russia while the rest of the countries have only 13 percent of the weapons. Where are nuclear bombs hidden? But even more worrying than these numbers is the secrecy surrounding them. While nations continue to talk about peace and stability, behind the scenes, nuclear stockpiles are being modernized and expanded. Not only this, in many cases they are being hidden in places that avoid public scrutiny. From fortified airbase bunkers to roaming submarines, weapons are quietly waiting to be activated. In Europe, US warheads are stored in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Turkey under NATO's nuclear-sharing arrangement. These sites are not publicly acknowledged, but security analysts know them well. Control remains with the USA, but their presence signals unwavering support for American allies at a time of global uncertainty. No transparency about stockpiles While Russia recently announced it had begun deploying tactical nuclear weapons in neighbouring Belarus, international observers suggest this may already be a reality. China and North Korea remain far vaguer, having not disclosed the status or location of their nuclear assets. Suspense over Israel's nuclear arsenal Israel, on the other hand, remains the most mysterious nuclear power. Unlike other countries, Israel has never officially confirmed or denied the existence of its nuclear arsenal, instead maintaining a doctrine of 'strategic obscurity'. Yet experts estimate the country has about 90 nuclear weapons, perhaps stored in hidden facilities beneath the Negev desert or at the heavily guarded Dimona reactor complex. Experts say the aim of this ambiguity is to create doubt in the minds of enemies like Iran or Hezbollah, so that they avoid attacking without being directly threatened. SIPRI's latest report is worrying SIPRI's latest report warns that the world is rapidly entering a new, more dangerous and technologically advanced nuclear age. They say that the current trend is similar to the uncontrolled proliferation of the 1960s and 70s, only this time the weapons are much better. They are smaller and harder to detect.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
Military Spending Soars Globally Amid Rise In Armed Conflicts
New war fronts have emerged across the globe, driving a rapid surge in military spending. In 2024, global military expenditure reached $2.718 trillion, up 9.4 per cent from 2023, marking the largest annual increase since 1988. Military spending now accounts for 2.5 per cent of global GDP, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Let's examine the major trends shaping military expenditure over the past decade. The sharp rise in armed conflicts worldwide has prompted significant increases in defence budgets, especially among nations directly involved. Ukraine's military budget soared to $64.7 billion in 2024, equal to 34.5 per cent of its GDP. In contrast, defence spending stood at just 3.4 per cent of GDP in 2021. After Russia's invasion in February 2022, the figure spiked to 25.6%, then 36.5% in 2023, and remained elevated in 2024. Russia's defence spending hit $149 billion in 2024, up 38 per cent from the previous year. As a share of GDP, military expenditure rose from 3.6 per cent in 2021 to 7.1 per cent in 2024, nearly doubling in three years. Amid its ongoing conflict with Hamas and rising tensions with Iran, Israel spent $46.5 billion on defence in 2024, a 65 per cent increase over 2023. Military spending climbed from 4.4% of GDP in 2022 to 8.8 per cent in 2024, with little sign of abating. Lebanon ramped up its military spending by 58 per cent in 2024. Defence expenditure rose from 1.6% of GDP in 2023 to 2.6 per cent in 2024, largely due to clashes with Israel. Amid heightened regional tensions and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Poland increased its defence budget from 2.2 per cent of GDP in 2022 to 4.2 per cent in 2024. Internal Conflicts and Expanding War Zones Drive Global Military Budgets Some of the most dramatic surges have also come from countries grappling with internal turmoil or simmering regional disputes. Here are the examples: Myanmar, embroiled in civil conflict, hiked its defence spending from 3.8 per cent of GDP in 2023 to 6.8 per cent in 2024. In the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict zone: Armenia allocated 5.5 per cent of its GDP to defence in 2024, and Azerbaijan, 5 per cent. Both now rank among just nine countries worldwide spending over 5 per cent of their GDP on their militaries. Algeria, amid enduring tensions with Morocco, spent $21.8 billion or 8 per cent of its GDP on defence in 2024.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Top 10 countries with the largest combat tank fleet in 2025: Where does India rank?
List of countries by combat tank fleet strength 2025: Amid escalating geopolitical tensions, the world has become increasingly unstable. According to an earlier Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) report, the global military expenditure rose by 37 per cent between 2015 and 2025, with a sharp 9.4 per cent increase recorded just last year. As countries ramp up defence spending, the world appears to be edging closer to a new arms race, running counter to calls for global peace and disarmament. The global nuclear arsenal was estimated at 12,241 warheads as of January 2025, with around 9,614 in active military stockpiles and ready for potential deployment, according to the SIPRI Yearbook 2025. China, which has significantly modernised and expanded its military over recent decades, is now the world's second-largest defence spender after the United States of America. This growing investment has helped China overtake the US, Russia, and North Korea to become the world leader in tank strength, with a fleet of 6,800 combat tanks, according to the Global Firepower 2025 rankings. Several Middle Eastern and North African countries, including Egypt, Iran, Algeria, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, also feature prominently in the global tank rankings, showing their sustained focus on armoured capabilities. In 2025, India is ranked 5th globally with a total of 4,201 combat tanks, placing it ahead of Pakistan, which ranks 7th with over 2,000 tanks. While there have been significant advances in warfare technology, combat tanks are still considered significant in combined arms warfare due to their capacity to deliver heavy firepower, withstand damage, and support infantry in complex terrain. Below are the top 10 countries with the largest combat tank fleet in the world, as estimated by Global Firepower Rankings 2025: Note: Total tank fleet by country is based on data from Global Firepower. Figures are current as of 2025. Estimates have been used where official data was unavailable. Cherry Gupta is an Assistant Manager - Content at The Indian Express. She is responsible for crafting compelling narratives, uncovering the latest news and developments, and driving engaging content based on data and trends to boost website traffic and audience engagement. One can connect with her on LinkedIn or by mail at ... Read More
India.com
4 days ago
- Business
- India.com
These Are the Worlds Top Arms Dealers – Where Does India Rank?
New Delhi: World nations are diverting funds from education and healthcare toward escalating arms purchases, spurred by geopolitical uncertainty and growing fears of conflict. From ancient swords to modern missiles and smart drones, weaponry has advanced and trade in military systems has skyrocketed. According to recent data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the United States has surged ahead as the top exporter of arms. Between 2015–19 and 2020–24, American exports grew by 21%, raising its global share from 35% to 43%. About 107 countries now source weapons from the United States. Notably, Europe overtook the Middle East in imports, taking in 35% of US exports versus the Middle East's 33%. Saudi Arabia alone accounts for 12% of US arms purchases. In contrast, Russia – long considered America's rival – has seen its share of global arms exports decline by 64% in the same period. Sanctions stemming from the Ukraine conflict have shifted demand, leading many nations to pivot away from Russian suppliers toward American systems. What about India's position? Though India still trails in arms exports, it is entering the global defense market with momentum. Recent defense collaborations involve smaller arms, missile systems and tactical equipment sold to countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam and Armenia – hinting at New Delhi's growing niche in military trade. On the import side, the SIPRI identifies Ukraine as the world's biggest weapons buyer, having increased its purchases a staggering 100-fold between 2015–19 and 2020–24. India follows in second place, although its arms imports dropped by 9.3% in 2020–24. At present, India accounts for 8.3% of global arms imports. This data reveals how current global tensions impact national security strategies. Countries now heavily invest in military capabilities, illustrating a broader shift from peacetime development priorities to strategic preparedness. India's dual role as both a leading importer and emerging exporter reflects a complex balancing act – modernise domestic capabilities while projecting regional influence through defense diplomacy.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
How much have US wars in the Middle East and Afghanistan cost?
The decades-long military involvement of the United States in the Middle East expanded once again this week after its warplanes bombed at least three of Iran's nuclear facilities. According to a briefing by US General Dan Caine, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, seven B-2 stealth bombers, each valued at approximately $2.1bn, dropped at least 14 bunker-buster bombs worth millions on Fordow and Natanz. In total, more than 125 US aircraft participated in the mission, including bombers, fighters, tankers, surveillance aircraft, and support crews, all costing hundreds of millions of dollars to deploy and operate. The US spends more on its military than any other country in the world, more than the next nine countries combined, spending about three times more than China and nearly seven times more than Russia. In 2024, the US spent $997bn on its military, accounting for 37 percent of all global military spending, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). According to an analysis by Brown University's Watson Institute of International & Public Affairs, US-led wars since 2001 directly caused the deaths of about 940,000 people across Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and other post-9/11 conflict zones. This does not include indirect deaths, namely those caused by loss of access to food, healthcare, or war-related diseases. These indirect deaths are estimated to be 3.6 to 3.8 million, bringing the total death toll, including direct and indirect deaths, to between 4.5 and 4.7 million and counting. During that time, at least 30,000 US military personnel, contractors, and allied troops were also killed. This includes at least 7,052 soldiers, 8,189 contractors, and 14,874 allied troops. The war in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as a response to the September 11 attacks and aimed to destroy al-Qaeda and remove the Taliban from power. Less than two years later, on March 20, 2003, the US and its allies launched the war in Iraq, aiming to eliminate its alleged weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and remove Saddam Hussein from power. However, no stockpiles of WMDs were ever found. Spanning nearly 20 years, the Afghanistan conflict, including those killed in the bordering regions of Pakistan, became the most prolonged military engagement in US history and resulted in an estimated 243,000 direct deaths. In Iraq, about 315,000 people were directly killed during the war. Together, they account for at least 558,000 direct deaths between October 2001 and August 2021, according to the Watson Institute. The US has spent an estimated $5.8 trillion funding its more than two decades of war. This includes $2.1 trillion spent by the Department of Defense (DOD), $1.1 trillion by Homeland Security, $884bn to increase the DOD base budget, $465bn on veterans' medical care, and an additional $1 trillion in interest payments on loans taken out to fund the war. In addition to the $5.8 trillion already spent, the US is expected to spend at least $2.2 trillion on obligations for veterans' care over the next 30 years. This brings the total estimated cost of US wars since 2001 to $8 trillion. Israel has consistently been the largest recipient of US foreign aid, having received at least $251.2bn in inflation-adjusted dollars since 1959, according to Brown University's Watson Institute. Since 2016, the US has committed to giving Israel $3.8bn per year under a 10-year memorandum of understanding, which runs through 2028. Most of this is allocated as Foreign Military Financing. However, in the year following the October 2023 attacks, the US provided an additional $17.9bn in military aid to Israel, the highest annual total ever. This includes $6.8bn in military financing, $4.5bn for missile defence and $4.4bn on replenishing arms to Israel from US stocks. According to the latest casualty figures from the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, as of June 24, 2025: Confirmed killed: at least 56,077 Injured: at least 131,848 Since Israel broke the ceasefire on March 18: Confirmed killed: at least 5,759 Injured: at least 19,807 Thousands more are feared buried under the rubble.
