US Pushes to Increase Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Amid Heightened Tensions

US Pushes to Increase , Nuclear Weapons Stockpile , Amid Heightened Tensions.

'Newsweek' reports that nuclear weapons have gained international focus amid a tense geopolitical landscape, particularly between the United States and Russia.

Various studies in the past nine months have assessed that the two global superpowers control a combined 89% of the world's total nuclear weapons stockpile.

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In late October, the U.S. House of Representatives pushed to increase spending for present and future nuclear stockpiles, defense and uranium enrichment.

In late October, the U.S. House of Representatives pushed to increase spending for present and future nuclear stockpiles, defense and uranium enrichment.

If passed, the new resolution would provide $56.96 billion for the 2024 fiscal year, with over $19 billion for updating weapons stockpiles and infrastructure.

According to a March report by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), just nine countries control about 12,500 warheads.

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FAS' statistics estimate that Russia's total nuclear stockpile consists of 5,889 active and retired weapons, while the U.S.'

Total is just below with 5,244.

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The nations with the next-highest amount of nuclear weapons are China with 410, France with 290, the United Kingdom with 225 and Pakistan with 170.

Generally speaking, right now the Weapons Activities budget is focused on ensuring that the U.S. has the capability to modernize and dismantle existing nuclear warheads, and to design and produce new warheads as needed, Michael Duitsman, research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, via 'Newsweek'.

Less than a third of the budget is for maintaining the current stockpile; the rest is dedicated to infrastructure and science, engineering and industrial capabilities, Michael Duitsman, research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, via 'Newsweek'