The world is gearing up for something big. While officials talk about peace, certain nations are quietly stacking nuclear warheads like poker chips. In the last 40 years, China, Pakistan, India, Israel, and North Korea have added over 700 warheads to their stockpiles.
But that’s just what’s been admitted. A 2024 report from the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) suggests three other nuclear-armed nations may be hoarding even more weapons. If true, the global arsenal is far larger than what’s officially reported.
Meanwhile, the U.S. and its allies have noticed some suspicious activity. Satellite images show Russia and China expanding their nuclear facilities. The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty—meant to halt testing—has stalled, and the U.S. has decided to restart its own underground testing programs.
FAS’s latest figures reveal a staggering 12,121 nuclear warheads scattered across nine countries. Unsurprisingly, the U.S. and Russia hold nearly 90% of them. Russia leads with 5,580 warheads, while the U.S. follows closely with 5,044.
China isn’t far behind, ramping up its arsenal at an alarming rate. France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, and the U.K. round out the rest, controlling the remaining 1,500 warheads. But no one really believes these nations have stopped building.
Tensions are reaching a breaking point. Former President Donald Trump recently warned Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky that he’s playing with fire by refusing U.S.-brokered peace terms. If words fail, history suggests missiles won’t be far behind.
One thing is clear: the global arms race never ended—it just went underground. Nations are preparing for a fight no one wants but everyone sees coming.
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Five Fast Facts
- Russia’s Tsar Bomba remains the most powerful nuclear weapon ever detonated—3,800 times stronger than the Hiroshima bomb.
- China is expected to double its nuclear arsenal by 2035, according to U.S. intelligence reports.
- Israel has never officially confirmed or denied possessing nuclear weapons, despite widespread evidence.
- Pakistan’s nuclear program was largely developed in secret during the 1980s, evading international scrutiny.
- North Korea claims its missiles can reach the U.S. mainland, though experts debate their true capabilities.
