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US President Donald Trump has ordered a ramp-up of the nation's nuclear weapons programme. He has ordered immediate testing of America's nuclear weapons. The order comes just ahead of Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.
Taking to social media platform Truth Social, he said while China ranks a distant third in the nuclear arms race, it's only matter of five years that it would catch up to the US at the top spot.
Global Nuclear Weapons Stockpiles: 9 Countries Ranked
Rank #1
Russia
5,500
warheads
Rank #2
United States
5,044
warheads
Rank #3
China
600
warheads
Rank #4
France
290
warheads
Rank #5
United Kingdom
225
warheads
Rank #6
India
180
warheads
Rank #7
Pakistan
172
warheads
Rank #8
Israel
90
warheads
Rank #9
North Korea
50
warheads
Source: International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)
Indian Express InfoGenIE
"The United States has more Nuclear Weapons than any other country. This was accomplished, including a complete update and renovation of existing weapons, during my First Term in office. Because of the tremendous destructive power, I HATED to do it, but had no choice," he said.
"Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years. Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately," Trump said.
Which countries have nuclear weapons?
According to International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) nations that host nuclear weapons stockpiles are Russia, United States, China, France, United Kingdom, Pakistan, India, Israel, and North Korea. ICAN is an alliance of organisations from various countries which support the United Nations' treaty on nuclear weapons ban. ICAN won the Nobel Peace Prize, an award that Trump desperately seeks, in 2017.
As per the ICAN, Russia has the highest nuclear weapons stockpile of 5,500 warheads followed by the US, which has 5,044 nuclear warheads. The US hosts its weapons within its territory as well as in five other nations — Turkey, Italy, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.
China ranks a distant third with 600 warheads. France comes in fourth with 290 warheads. It is followed by the United Kingdom, which has 225 nuclear weapons. India and Pakistan follow close behind with 180 and 172 warheads, respectively. Israel and North Korea are ranked eighth and ninth with 90 and 50 warheads.
The Nuclear Superpower Gap
Top 3 Nuclear Powers: A Massive Disparity
Russia
5,500
warheads
United States
5,044
warheads
China
600
warheads
THE STAGGERING DIFFERENCE
Russia and US combined hold 10,544 warheads — more than 17 times China's arsenal. China ranks a distant third but projected to match US within 5 years.
Source: International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)
Indian Express InfoGenIE
What does the UN 'Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons' say?
Adopted in 2017, the united Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) is the first global agreement to comprehensively ban the development, testing, possession, or use of nuclear arms. It was supported by 122 nations at the UN. The treaty aims for total nuclear disarmament and assistance for victims of nuclear testing. It officially entered into force in January 2021 after being ratified by 50 countries.
The treaty statement reads: "The TPNW is comprehensive set of prohibitions on participating in any nuclear weapon activities. These include undertakings not to develop, test, produce, acquire, possess, stockpile, use or threaten to use nuclear weapons. The Treaty also prohibits the deployment of nuclear weapons on national territory and the provision of assistance to any State in the conduct of prohibited activities."
