SIPRI Yearbook 2022

In news– The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has launched findings of SIPRI Yearbook 2022 recently.

Key findings of the report-

The yearbook provides an overview of developments in international security, weapons and technology, military expenditure, arms production and the arms trade, and armed conflicts and conflict management, along with efforts to control conventional, nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.
The report assesses the current state of armaments, disarmament and international security.
A key finding is that despite a marginal decrease in the number of nuclear warheads in 2021, nuclear arsenals are expected to grow over the coming decade.
As per this report, the nine nuclear-armed states continue to modernize their nuclear arsenals and although the total number of nuclear weapons declined slightly between January 2021 and January 2022.

The nine nuclear states are the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea).

It said that of the total inventory of an estimated 12,705 warheads at the start of 2022, about 9440 were in military stockpiles for potential use.

Russia and the US together continue to possess over 90 per cent of all nuclear weapons.

Other seven nuclear-armed states are either developing or deploying new weapon systems, or have announced their intention to do so.
Pakistan’s nuclear stockpile has remained at 165 in January 2021 and January 2022.
China is in the middle of a substantial expansion of its nuclear weapon arsenal, which satellite images indicate includes the construction of over 300 new missile silos.
Spending also rose among other major regional powers: by 0.9 per cent in India, 7.3 per cent in Japan and 4.7 per cent in South Korea.
The 25 largest suppliers accounted for 99 percent of the total volume of exports, and the 5 largest suppliers in the period—the United States, Russia, France, China and Germany— accounted for 77 per cent of the total volume of exports.
SIPRI has identified 163 states as importers of major arms in 2017–21. The five largest arms importers were India, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Australia and China, which together accounted for 38 per cent of total arms imports.
The region that received the largest volume of major arms supplies in 2017–21 was Asia and Oceania, accounting for 43 per cent of the total, followed by the Middle East, Europe, Africa and the Americas.
Between 2012–16 and 2017–21, the flow of arms to Europe and the Middle East increased, while flows to Africa, the Americas, Asia and Oceania decreased.

Status of India-

According to SIPRI, India had 160 nuclear warheads as of January 2022 and it appears to be expanding its nuclear arsenal.
While India’s nuclear stockpile increased from 156 in January 2021 to 160 in January 2022, Pakistan’s nuclear stockpile remained at 165 in January 2021 and January 2022.
It has also said that India does not share official data on its nuclear arsenal.

About SIPRI-

Established in 1966, SIPRI is an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament. It provides data, analysis and recommendations, based on open sources, to policymakers, researchers, media and the interested public.

Note:

Deployed warheads’ refers to warheads placed on missiles or located on bases with operational forces.
‘Stored warheads’ refers to stored or reserve warheads that would require some preparation (e.g. transport and loading on to launchers) before they could be deployed.
‘Total stockpile’ refers to warheads that are intended for use by the armed forces.
‘Total inventory’ includes stockpiled warheads plus retired warheads awaiting dismantlement.

Mixed signals from nuclear diplomacy-

There were several landmarks in nuclear diplomacy during the past year. These included the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in January 2021, having received the required 50 state ratifications.
The extension for five years of New START, the last remaining bilateral arms control agreement between the world’s two leading nuclear powers( United States and Russia).
The start of talks on the USA rejoining, and Iran returning to compliance with the Iran nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
During 2021, the nuclear-armed permanent members (P5) of the United Nations Security Council—China, France, Russia, the UK and the USA—worked on a joint statement that they issued on 3 January 2022, affirming that ‘nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought’.
They also reaffirmed their obligations under the 1968 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and pursuing the goal of a world without nuclear weapons.
However, Russia has made open threats about possible nuclear weapon use in the context of the war in Ukraine.
Bilateral Russia–USA strategic stability talks have stalled because of the war, and none of the other nuclear-armed states are pursuing arms control negotiations.
Moreover, the P5 members have voiced opposition to the TPNW, and the JCPOA negotiations have not yet reached a resolution.