A Swedish think tank says the global total of nuclear warheads deployed with missiles and aircraft has grown by 60 from last year. China and Russia appear to be promoting their deployment.
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute released the finding on Monday in its annual report.
It says there were an estimated 12,121 nuclear warheads in January 2024, a decline of 391 from a year earlier.
Russia is estimated to have 5,580 warheads, followed by the United States with 5,044. The two countries are believed to possess about 90 percent of the total global inventory. China is estimated to have the third largest stockpile of 500 nuclear warheads, 90 more than last year.
Of the total, an estimated 3,904 warheads, or more than 30 percent, were deployed with missiles and aircraft.
The report says that, for the first time, China is believed to have some warheads on high operational alert. It also says that Russia is estimated to have deployed around 36 more warheads with operational forces than in January 2023.
The report also says the number of intercontinental ballistic missiles possessed by China is likely to reach or even exceed the numbers held by Russia or the US in a decade. The institute commented, "China is expanding its nuclear arsenal faster than any other country."
The report analyzes that tensions over Ukraine and the Gaza Strip have further weakened nuclear diplomacy.
It refers to the tactical nuclear weapon drills that Russia carried out close to the Ukrainian border in May. It says, "We have not seen nuclear weapons playing such a prominent role in international relations since the cold war."
It went on to say, "We are now in one of the most dangerous periods in human history." It added "it is time for the great powers to step back and reflect."