Global stockpile of nuclear weapons expected to rise: SIPRI

The US and Russia, who hold 90 percent of the world’s atomic weapons, saw their inventories decline in 2021 due to the dismantling of warheads retired years ago [File: Russian Defense Ministry Press Service/AP]

The global stockpile of nuclear weapons is expected to rise in coming years for the first time since the Cold War due to global tensions, a leading arms watchdog has said.

In its annual report published on Monday (PDF), the Stockholm International Peace Research (SIPRI) said on Monday that all nine nuclear-armed countries are increasing or upgrading their arsenals.