Nuclear weapons – worldwide situation 2021

This report is based on open sources and provides an overview of the current status and recent developments in the nuclear weapons arsenals of the world’s nine nuclear-weapon possessing states. The brief sections on each state discusses stockpile sizes, key delivery vehicles, doctrinal and technological developments and other relevant indicators and aspects. This is followed by an analysis of select subjects and key trends. All nuclear-weapon possessors invest significant amounts of money and prestige in their nuclear-weapon programmes. Some of the recent developments increase the flexibility of the state’s nuclear posture, and some can be explained as attempts of retaining mutual vulnerability by overcoming current and future missile defence systems. It is a concern that most, if not all, nuclear-weapon possessors appear to increase the emphasis they place on their nuclear weapons. There are ambitious modernisation programmes in the works, and some states are increasing their stockpiles of nuclear weapons. It is also of concern that several states contribute to a blurring of the distinctions between nuclear and conventional delivery vehicles and command and control systems, thereby increasing the risk of miscalculation and inadvertent escalation.