Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) launched its Yearbook 2020

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has launched the findings of SIPRI Yearbook 2020. It is a compendium of cutting-edge information and analysis on developments in armaments, disarmament and international security.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz 2020

Key-Points

Nuclear warhead reductions continue despite growing tensions: United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea)—together possessed an estimated 13 400 nuclear weapons at the start of 2020.

Next-generation nuclear weapon systems are in development: Russia and the USA have extensive and expensive programmes under way to replace and modernize their nuclear warheads, missile and aircraft delivery systems, and nuclear weapon production facilities.

Despite an overall decrease in the number of nuclear warheads in 2019, all nuclear weapon-possessing states continue to modernize their nuclear arsenals.

With 6,375 and 5,800 warheads, Russia and the United States together possess more than 90% of global nuclear weapons.

China and Pakistan possess more nuclear weapons than India. It pegs the number of nuclear warheads in the Chinese arsenal at 320, while the nuclear forces of Pakistan and India are estimated to have 160 and 150 weapons, respectively. In 2019, India had 130-140 warheads.

China is developing a nuclear triad for the first time, made up of new land- and sea-based missiles and nuclear-capable aircraft.