A recent report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute highlighted the ongoing modernization of nuclear weapons by the world's nine nuclear-armed states. The report emphasized the increasing reliance on nuclear deterrence in international relations, drawing parallels to the Cold War era.
Notably, Russia and Belarus conducted drills focused on tactical nuclear weapons, signaling Moscow's efforts to dissuade Western support for Ukraine. The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons revealed that the nine nuclear-armed states collectively spent $91.4 billion on their arsenals in 2023, with the United States leading the expenditure at $51.5 billion.
