Global nuclear spending hits record $119 billion, up 19%

The world's nine nuclear-armed states spent a record USD 119 billion on their arsenals in 2025, a 19% increase from the prior year, according to a new report from the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.

FILE PHOTO: An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launches during an operational test at 2:10 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, U.S., August 2, 2017. Picture taken August 2, 2017.

U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Ian Dudley/Handout via REUTERS

The figure is the highest since ICAN began detailed tracking in 2020. "A new nuclear arms race is approaching", the Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization warned.

The United States remained by far the largest spender, allocating USD 69.2 billion — a 22% jump from 2024 and more than all other nuclear-armed states combined. Analysts say the increase reflects Washington's response to rising geopolitical tensions and challenges from rival powers.

China ranked second at USD 13.5 billion, up 7%, while Britain overtook Russia, raising its spending 17% to USD 12.6 billion. Russia, despite economic pressures, increased its nuclear outlays 6% to USD 9.5 billion.

A separate report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute noted that nuclear weapons are gaining importance as instruments of state power, with modernization efforts compounding the risk of miscalculation and conflict escalation. SIPRI highlighted China's rapidly expanding nuclear program as a potential shift in the global balance of power.

ICAN, which represents hundreds of organizations in more than 100 countries, called on the international community to take decisive steps toward nuclear disarmament.

(jh)

Source: RMF24, PAP