SIPRI Yearbook 2023 out now, new data on world nuclear forces, Spotlight films from Stockholm Forum, and more

SIPRI launched its annual assessment of the state of armaments, disarmament and international security. A key finding of SIPRI Yearbook 2023 is that the number of operational nuclear weapons started to rise as countries’ long-term force modernization and expansion plans progressed. Of the total global inventory of an estimated 12 512 warheads in January 2023, about 9576 were in military stockpiles for potential use—86 more than in January 2022. Of those, an estimated 3844 warheads were deployed with missiles and aircraft, and around 2000—nearly all of which belonged to Russia or the United States—were kept in a state of high operational alert, meaning that they were fitted to missiles or held at airbases hosting nuclear bombers.

Read more | Download the sample chapter on world nuclear forces

On 22 June, SIPRI is proud to launch a series of Spotlight Films from the 2023 Stockholm Forum on Peace and Development. The films feature interviews with a range of experts, thought leaders and heads of international development organizations. They can be viewed on SIPRI’s YouTube Channel, or on the 2023 Stockholm Forum Playlist.

Read more | Access the playlist

On 29–31 May, SIPRI was invited to participate in the 2023 Bratislava Forum. The Bratislava Forum is a yearly conference organized by the think tank GLOBSEC. It is a major platform for thought leaders, global think tanks, experts, heads of international organizations and innovators across Europe. Dr Florian Krampe, Director of SIPRI’s Climate Change and Risk Programme, gave input and a presentation at the closed-door side event on ‘National Strategies for Climate Security: Collaborating Across Borders and Sectors’. This side event reviewed the increasing impact of climate change on global security.

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On 14 June, SIPRI was awarded a Luxembourg Peace Prize for its outstanding contribution to environmental peace. Luxembourg Peace Prizes are awarded by the Schengen Peace Foundation and the World Peace Forum to outstanding peacemakers and activists.

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This SIPRI Essay highlights the need for the United Nations General Assembly to address climate-related security risks. It suggests the UN Security Council’s limited approach necessitates the General Assembly’s involvement as a more inclusive forum. The General Assembly can provide a platform for negotiations, access to scientific knowledge and coordinated action across the UN system. Proposed entry points include agenda inclusion, leveraging the right to a clean environment, amplifying evidence through inquiries and mandating other bodies. The General Assembly’s engagement could influence other fronts and pressure the Security Council to address climate-related security risks directly.

Read the SIPRI Essay

This WritePeace Blog focuses on Poland’s thriving arms industry, which has seen significant growth as a result of Russia’s war against Ukraine. With a focus on modernization and diversification, Poland aims to move beyond its Soviet-era legacy and become a significant player in the global arms market. The country’s military modernization efforts have been ongoing since the cold war. Increased military spending and procurement deals have bolstered the Polish arms industry, but long-term plans face risks from shifting government priorities or European policies. Nonetheless, Poland sees an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen its position and achieve its ambitions in the arms industry.

Read the SIPRI WritePeace Blog

SIPRI experts were recently featured in the following external outlets:

• ‘Why we must urgently address climate issues to secure global peace’, by Dan Smith, published by World Economic Forum on 13 June.

• ‘A violent world is a hungrier world’, by Caroline Delgado, published by Project Syndicate on 12 June.

• ‘Ten-year review of China’s defense budget: Steadily toward modernization’, by Fei Su and Xiao Liang, published by South Asian Voices on 8 June.

• ‘Att lämna som statsminister och kämpa för fred [To leave as prime minister and fight for peace]’, by Stefan Löfven, published by Uppsala University in the Research Peace Podcast on 7 June.

• ‘Everyday peace in the Ninewa Plains, Iraq: Culture, rituals, and community interactions’, by Amal Bourhrous and Dylan O’Driscoll, published in Cooperation and Conflict on 6 June.

• ‘Securing peace in a time of environmental crisis’, by Simone Bunse and Claire McAllister, published in Baltic Rim Economies on 31 May.

• ‘Space law and the challenges surrounding liability in space’, by Nivedita Raju, published by Friends of Europe in the Dark Matter Podcast on 10 May.