America and Russia, the world’s two biggest nuclear powers, are threatening to make more weapons. Here’s how many nukes each nation has – By Amanda Macias (cnbc.com) / Dec 6 2018
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he will develop ground-launched nuclear missiles if the U.S. withdraws from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
The two leaders of the world’s nuclear club are threatening to withdraw from an arms control agreement, a move that will allow each country to bolster its arsenal with more nukes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that he will develop ground-launched nuclear missiles if the U.S. withdraws from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces, or INF, treaty.
The pact, signed by the U.S. and Soviet Union in 1987, prohibits the development of midrange nuclear-tipped missiles. The agreement forced each country to dismantle more than 2,500 missiles with ranges of 310 to 3,420 miles. The arms ban kept nuclear-tipped cruise missiles off the European continent for three decades.
Of the 14,500 nuclear weapons on the planet, Russia and the United States own the lion’s share, with a combined total of approximately 13,350 nukes. The remaining 1,150 weapons are held by seven countries.
North Korea, the latest unwelcome addition to the world’s nuke club, remains the only country to test nuclear weapons in this century.
While the exact number of nukes in each country’s arsenal is closely guarded, below is a breakdown of how many weapons exist, according to estimates from the Arms Control Association and Federation of American Scientists.
North Korea
KCNA | Reuters North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects the long-range strategic ballistic rocket Hwasong-12 (Mars-12) in this undated photo released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on May 15, 2017.
Total nuclear weapons: ~10 to 20
Total nuclear tests: ~6
First tested: October 2006
Most recent test: September 2017
Israel
Total nuclear weapons: ~80
Total nuclear tests: 0
First tested: No confirmed tests
Most recent test: No confirmed tests
India
Total nuclear weapons: ~120 to 130
Total nuclear tests: ~3
First tested: May 1974
Most recent test: May 1998
Pakistan
Total nuclear weapons: ~130 to 140
Total nuclear tests: ~2
First tested: May 1998
Most recent test: May 1998
United Kingdom
Total nuclear weapons: ~215
Total nuclear tests: ~45
First tested: October 1952
Most recent test: November 1991
China
Getty Images Chinese President Xi Jinping
Total nuclear weapons: ~270
Total nuclear tests: ~45
First tested: October 1964
Most recent test: July 1996
France
Total nuclear weapons: ~300
Total nuclear tests: ~210
First tested: February 1960
Most recent test: January 1996
United States
Total nuclear weapons: ~ 6,550
Total nuclear tests: ~ 1,030
First tested: July 1945
Most recent test: September 1992
Russia
Sasha Mordovets | Getty Images News | Getty Images Russian President Vladimir Putin visits the destroyer Vice-Admiral Kulakov at the Naval Base of Black Sea Fleet on September 23, 2014 in Novorossiysk, Russia.
Total nuclear weapons: ~6,800
Total nuclear tests: ~ 715
First tested: August 1949
Most recent test: October 1990
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