According to reports, the total nuclear stockpile possession worldwide is approximately 13,865. Though the number has decreased hugely over the past few years, it is important to know that countries with most powerful nuclear weapons in the world continue to innovate and modernize their chemical weapons! While several NATO countries with nuclear weapons, among others have come together to stop the proliferation of the same, the current political scenario indicates the initiation of nuclear war around the globe!
This article will walk you through the history of the origin of nuclear weapons while focusing on the countries with most powerful nuclear weapons in the world.
Countries With Most Powerful Nuclear Weapons In The World
The Invention Of Nuclear War
The invention of nuclear weapons came into existence during World War II. While the Manhattan Project birthed the nuclear bombs, they were first used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan by the US forces! Followed by this horrific incident, Japan over a course of a few years, gained mastery in the development of nuclear weapons and the US responded again with a more sophisticated bomb. Thus, the Cold War Arms Race was witnessed.
Amidst all this, the world saw several countries stocking up on more and more nuclear weapons and in 1962, finally, the Nuclear War was experienced! But, amidst the nuclear war, peace protests against countries with most powerful nuclear weapons in the world unfolded. The US and USSR responded with an international treaty that brought down the proliferation of nuclear weapons in 1968. The NPT separated the global countries into two groups, the countries with most powerful nuclear weapons in the world and the non-nuclear power countries.
According to the international peace agreement, the countries with most powerful nuclear weapons in the world will not attack the non-nuclear power countries, besides bringing an end to nuclear proliferation further.
NATO Countries With Nuclear Weapons
Since the time the international peace treaty was signed, the remaining nuclear weapons were deactivated and returned to Russia. But, even after many years of protests, there are many countries around the globe that still possess nuclear Warheads. While the number of stockpiles worldwide has decreased, the remaining ones are highly modernized and pose more dangers than the initial bombs. Besides countries such as India which have never signed the NPT, NATO countries with nuclear weapons include the US and Russia.
While the US has its own nuclear warheads, the majority of the Russian nuclear weapons are deployed outside Russia. They include submarine-launched ballistic missiles and intercontinental ballistic missiles which are capable of hitting various targets. Besides, shorter-range missiles are deployed around NATO countries with nuclear weapons other than US and Russia, namely, Belgium, Germany, Italy, etc.
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How Many Nuclear Weapons Does India Have?
While countries with most powerful nuclear weapons in the world include Russia with 6500 nuclear warheads and the US with 6185 nuclear warheads, in the first and second positions, there are other countries as well who have possessed nuclear weapons for decades.
Besides the US and Russia, there were some countries that were apprehensive of the NPT agreement and thus did not enter the treaty. While North Korea initially signed the NPT, it announced its exit in 2003. Followed by their exit, the country has openly tested nuclear weapons, only to invite sanctions and criticism from international communities. Apart from North Korea, India has also tested nuclear devices twice despite being faced with backlash and sanctions from the US.
In response to the Indian testing of nuclear weapons, on 28 May 1998, Pakistan successfully conducted several underground Nuclear tests, making it the seventh country to possess nuclear weapons. But, India confirmed that the testing of nuclear devices was not suggestive of the promotion of nuclear war!
The then leader, Atal Bihari Vajpayee states that in a political situation where a “neighboring country” is on the pinnacle of nuclear power, it is important to be self-sufficient to be able to protect our motherland from the opposition! Currently, India has about 130-150 nuclear warheads, leaving behind Israel and North Korea.
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The End Note
Though after World War II, till now the world did not witness the utilization of nuclear weapons! But, countries with most powerful nuclear weapons in the world such as China with 290 nuclear warheads, besides the UK, France, and Russia point out that the danger is still not over, especially in the wake of the current political scenario!
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