Nine Nuclear Powers Spent Over $91 Billion on Weapons in 2023

(Patria) - Nine nuclear-armed states collectively spent $91.4 billion last year, or nearly $3,000 per second, as they continue to modernize and, in some cases, expand their arsenals.

This was stated in a report published today by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), as reported by VOA.

Futile Spending

- This money is essentially being wasted given that nuclear-armed states agree that a nuclear war can never be won and should never be fought - said report co-author Alicia Sanders-Zakre.

For example, she pointed out, $91.4 billion a year could pay for wind energy for more than 12 million homes to combat climate change, or cover 27 percent of the global funding gap for fighting climate change, protecting biodiversity, and reducing pollution.

The report shows that nuclear-armed states spent $10.7 billion more on nuclear weapons in 2023 compared to 2022, with the US accounting for 80 percent of that increase.

ICAN reports that the US spent $51.5 billion, "more than all other nuclear-armed countries combined."

The report highlights that the next largest spender was China with $11.8 billion, while Russia spent the third-largest amount with $8.3 billion.

It adds that "UK spending has risen significantly for the second consecutive year," with a 17% increase to $8.1 billion, just behind Russia.

The total for the other five nuclear powers - France, India, Israel, Pakistan, and North Korea - amounted to $11.6 billion last year.

The report's authors state that companies involved in nuclear weapons production in 2023 received new contracts worth just under $7.9 billion.

Analysis of data collected over the past five years shows that nuclear-armed states have collectively spent $387 billion on their nuclear arsenals.

- There has been a noticeable upward trend in the amount of money allocated for the development of this most inhumane and destructive weapon over the past five years, which is now accelerating.

All this money does not improve global security. In fact, it threatens people wherever they live - Sanders-Zakre emphasizes.

Arms control experts share this concern and warn of the dangers of a new arms race as nuclear powers build their arsenals, defying the spirit of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology.

A report in the May issue of the journal "Foreign Affairs" cites Washington's concern over China's rapidly expanding nuclear arsenal.

According to Pentagon estimates, under Chinese President Xi Jinping, Beijing is on track to amass 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030, up from about 200 in 2019.

Russia's Aggressive Behavior

A 2023 report by the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States insists that China's nuclear expansion should prompt US policymakers to reassess the size and composition of US nuclear forces.

The commission also expressed alarm over Russia's increasingly aggressive behavior, including the unprecedented growth of its nuclear forces, diversification and expansion of theater-based nuclear systems, the 2014 invasion of Ukraine, and the subsequent full-scale invasion in February 2022.

International concern over an accidental or deliberate tactical nuclear attack by Russia was highlighted last weekend at the G7 Summit in Italy and at the Peace Summit for Ukraine in Switzerland.

In their final communiqué, G7 leaders condemned Russia's "flagrant violation of international law," affirming that "in this context, Russia's threats of nuclear weapons use, let alone any use of nuclear weapons by Russia in the context of its war of aggression against Ukraine, would be inadmissible."

This sentiment was reflected in the final Declaration signed by the majority of the 100 countries attending the Ukraine peace conference.

Commenting on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, ICAN Executive Director Melissa Parke warned:

"This war has raised nuclear tensions between Russia and the West to the highest level since the Cold War, and there is now a real threat of nuclear conflict as a result of numerous Russian overt and implicit nuclear threats."

The ICAN report, which profiles 20 countries involved in the production, maintenance, and development of nuclear weapons, states that "there are a total of $335 billion in outstanding contracts related to nuclear weapons work."

Although the report shows significant growth in nuclear spending over the past five years, ICAN's program coordinator and report co-author also notes a rise in global resistance to these weapons of mass destruction.

- The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons has signatures from nearly 100 countries. One hundred and eleven investors representing assets of about $5 trillion have declared their support for the treaty.

They have called for more efforts to exclude the nuclear weapons industry from their operations until these countries stop doing things prohibited by the treaty.

It is a way to reduce tensions, condemn threats, and stop this new nuclear arms race we have illustrated here before it spirals even further out of control - she said, emphasizing that the treaty is "a clear path forward."