What the numbers say: Nuclear warheads, classified as weapons of mass destruction, form part of the defense strategy for several nations globally. As of January 2023, around 12,500 such weapons existed worldwide, with nearly 90% owned by the U.S. and Russia. These two nations hold the majority despite declining global nuclear weapon count since the Cold War, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Relevance: Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said Russia's planned transfer of tactical nuclear warheads to Belarus is underway. He repeatedly claimed to veto their use and said their purpose was exclusively defensive. Impact: In July 2017, the UN General Assembly voted on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and 139 countries supported the treaty. The Biden administration's updated Conventional Arms Transfer (CAT) policy was released in February 2023. |
