China, India Expand Nuclear Arsenals Amid Rising Tensions

As of early 2025, the global nuclear arsenal continues to grow, with China expanding rapidly to an estimated 600 warheads and nearing completion of 350 new ICBM silos, positioning it to potentially match the U.S. and Russia in intercontinental missile capacity by the end of the decade. India has increased its arsenal to 180 warheads, surpassing Pakistan's static count of 170, and is developing longer-range capabilities. All nine nuclear-armed states are modernizing their arsenals, and the global trend of nuclear disarmament has ended, as new warheads are being added faster than old ones are dismantled. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) warns that arms control agreements are weakening worldwide. Recent military tensions, such as India's Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, underscore the risk of conflicts escalating near nuclear infrastructure. Overall, growing nuclear rhetoric and modernization have increased the risk of nuclear conflict to its highest level since the Cold War.