Global spending on nuclear weapons hit $119 billion in 2025,setting a record high,says International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). That's $16.8 billion more than last year,pointing to a troubling pattern among nine nuclear-armed nations.
U.S. led,spending $69.2 billion,up $12.6 billion from 2024. This figure overshadows combined outlays of all other nuclear powers . After U.S.,China spent around $13.5 billion,while UK and Russia hit $12.6 billion and $9.5 billion,respectively. France reported $7.7 billion. Meanwhile,Pakistan,Israel,North Korea spent less,from $656 million by North Korea to $2.8 billion by India.
In five years,nuclear-armed countries poured about $471 billion into arsenals. ICAN notes these nations plan to keep nuclear capabilities for decades. They slammed this splurge,saying “This exorbitant spending comes at a time when countries are significantly scaling back their investments in global commons.”
ICAN pointed out that while nations break promises to tackle climate change and ignore multilateral diplomacy,they're pouring funds into nuclear weapons development. Report came as Stockholm International Peace Research Institute warned nuclear states are ditching disarmament pledges to modernize arsenals.
These nine countries hold over 12,000 warheads,most with U.S. and Russia. In 2017,UN adopted Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons,first global treaty to ban nuclear arms. None of nuclear states have signed it,despite its ban on development,testing,or acquisition.
Historically,U.S. and Russia signed treaties since early 1990s to cap arsenals,but last of these,New START,expired in February with no follow-up. Raises questions about future of disarmament and global security…
