Nuclear weapons make a comeback: necessary deterrence, or a dangerous new arms race?
SIPRI's 2026 report finds all nine nuclear-armed states modernized and expanded their arsenals last year, with about 12,200 warheads worldwide and disarmament stalling. Governments increasingly call nuclear weapons essential to national defense; arms-control experts warn the world is sliding into a perilous new arms race.
The summary above is a neutral framing. Below, each side reports the same story in its own words — judge for yourself.
A growing number of governments argue nuclear weapons are essential national defense in a more dangerous, multipolar world, and are modernizing warheads and delivery systems for credible deterrence. SIPRI notes that even traditionally non-aligned states such as Finland and Sweden now take part in NATO nuclear planning and exercises.
Arms-control researchers warn this is a perilous new arms race: all nine nuclear states expanded or upgraded their arsenals in 2025, roughly 12,200 warheads remain in the world, and the era of disarmament treaties is fading — with China among those rapidly building up.
