Related news: Weapons of mass destruction

On 11 December, two leading SIPRI experts took part in a panel on nuclear weapons organized by the Nobel Peace Prize.

On 2–5 December, SIPRI and the European Union Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC) hosted an intensive introductory course on weapons of mass destruction (WMD) non-proliferation and disarmament.

On 21–22 November, SIPRI hosted a closed-door workshop on potential nuclear escalation pathways involving space systems, as part of a research project sponsored by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

In October 2024, SIPRI published an extensive study on the expansion of the global space sector, referred to as ‘NewSpace’, and the risk of missile-related technology proliferation.

SIPRI and the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium are pleased to announce a new introductory course on WMD non-proliferation and disarmament. The course will take place from 2–5 December 2024 in Stockholm, Sweden.

On 8–9 September, SIPRI and the Middle East Council on Global Affairs (ME Council) co-hosted a workshop on the theme ‘Asia and the Middle East Beyond Energy: Towards Security and Defense Cooperation’.

SIPRI today launches its annual assessment of the state of armaments, disarmament and international security.

On 28–31 May, SIPRI and the European Union Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC) delivered an intensive online introductory course on chemical and biological weapons for graduate and postgraduate students. Participants learned about the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons, efforts to eliminate them, and the various mechanisms used to control their spread, as well as endeavours to reduce the risk of chemical or biological agents in terrorist attacks.

SIPRI and JIIA co-hosted an expert workshop on ‘Examining Security Dilemma Dynamics behind Naval Build-up in the Indo-Pacific’.

On 19–20 February, SIPRI co-organized a workshop on ‘Regional Perspectives on Nuclear Risk Reduction in Outer Space’ which was held in Seoul, South Korea.

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On 16–17 January 2024, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) organized an in-person workshop entitled ‘Unpacking Risks at the Space–Nuclear Nexus’.

SIPRI and the Alva Myrdal Centre (AMC) at Uppsala University are pleased to release a compendium of working papers on nuclear disarmament.

Click here to read the compendium.

Developments in space, including the rise of new capabilities targeting space assets, have increased the domain’s relevance to peace and security. Here are some of SIPRI’s recent analyses on space security, including a new video series on space systems and nuclear escalation pathways.

SIPRI collaborated with the European Union Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC) on several disarmament events at the end of 2023.

On 27 November, SIPRI and the Alva Myrdal Centre for Nuclear Disarmament at Uppsala University hosted a side event at the second meeting of states parties to the 2017 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in New York.

On 20 October, SIPRI, together with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organized a side event at the 78th session of the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The event explored the nexus between outer space and nuclear weapons, including how developments in outer space can impact potential pathways to nuclear use.

SIPRI and the EUNPDC invite students of engineering disciplines to apply for an intensive introductory course on the proliferation of nuclear weapons, mechanisms to control their further spread, the security of nuclear materials and installations, and pathways to disarmament.

On 29–30 August, SIPRI hosted a two-day workshop focusing on the significance of nuclear weapons in NATO's deterrence strategy.

SIPRI hosted Rafael Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, for a roundtable discussion and international press conference.

On 12 and 15 June 2023, SIPRI took part in the 12th Consultative Meeting of the European Union Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC). The Consultative Meeting, which is funded by the EU, was organized by the Foundation for Strategic Research and gathered representatives of the EU, its member states and think tanks. 

SIPRI today launches its annual assessment of the state of armaments, disarmament and international security.

SIPRI mourns the passing of Ambassador Jayantha Dhanapala, former Vice Chair of the SIPRI Governing Board and former United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs. Ambassador Dhanapala passed away at the age of 85.

Dan Smith, SIPRI Director, said, ‘Jayantha was a monumental figure who has had a lasting impact on the field of non-proliferation and disarmament. He was a skilled diplomat with an astonishingly broad range of knowledge on disarmament affairs.’

SIPRI is issuing an open call to students and young professionals for paper abstracts from the social sciences, humanities and legal disciplines. The papers will be part of a collection of essays to be published online by the Alva Myrdal Centre for Nuclear Disarmament (AMC) under the theme ‘Expanding Perspectives on Nuclear Disarmament’.

SIPRI is pleased to launch a new video series that explores biosecurity risks linked to emerging technologies and considers how these risks can be addressed. The series features international experts from the research fields of genetics, bioethics, international affairs and microbiology.

SIPRI and the Alva Myrdal Centre for Nuclear Disarmament at Uppsala University are pleased to host the 2023 Armament and Disarmament Summer School on 21–25 August 2023. The 2023 summer school will be held in cooperation with the Odesa Center for Nonproliferation.

SIPRI and the European Union Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC) are pleased to host a second installment of the intensive introductory course on the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), mechanisms to control their further spread and pathways to disarmament. The course will take place on 2–5 May 2023 online.

Five new SIPRI materials provide dates, data and reflections on the events leading up to war in Iraq and developments for Iraq and beyond in the two decades since.

(Stockholm, 22 February 2023) Yesterday, in his State of the Nation address, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia would suspend its participation in New START, the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty between the world’s two nuclear superpowers: Russia and the United States.

On 17–18 January 2023, SIPRI hosted an expert workshop as part of its work on developing a toolkit for practicing responsible biological science, targeting academics and researchers in the life sciences.

On 6–8 December 2022, SIPRI and the European Union Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC) hosted an intensive introductory course on the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), mechanisms to control their further spread and pathways to disarmament.

On 2 December, SIPRI and the Government of the United Kingdom co-hosted a side event in Geneva at the Ninth Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention entitled ‘Biorisk Awareness Across Stakeholder Communities’.

On 14–15 November 2022, SIPRI actively participated in the 11th annual EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Conference. The conference, which is funded by the European Union (EU), was organized by the Institute of International Affairs (IAI) on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC).

The webinars of the 2022 Stockholm Security Conference are now available online.

SIPRI and the  European Union Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC) are pleased to host an intensive introductory course on the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), mechanisms to control their further spread and pathways to disarmament.

On 28 August–2 September, SIPRI and the Alva Myrdal Centre for Nuclear Disarmament at Uppsala University, in cooperation with the Odessa Center for Nonproliferation (ODCNP), hosted the 2022 Armament and Disarmament Summer School.

SIPRI, together with the Alva Myrdal Centre for Nuclear Disarmament at Uppsala University and the Swedish Government, hosted a side event, ‘Nuclear Disarmament at a Crossroads?’, at the 10th review conference (RevCon) of the parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in New York.

On 9–13 May 2022 Nivedita Raju, Researcher in the SIPRI Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme, participated in the first substantive session of the United Nations open-ended working group on reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours.

(Stockholm, 13 June 2022) SIPRI today launches the findings of SIPRI Yearbook 2022, which assesses the current state of armaments, disarmament and international security. A key finding is that despite a marginal decrease in the number of nuclear warheads in 2021, nuclear arsenals are expected to grow over the coming decade.

On 29 September, SIPRI hosted a webinar on ‘South Asia’s Nuclear Future: SIPRI’s Project Findings’, which is the final event in its project on nuclear challenges in South Asia.

On 8–10 September, SIPRI actively participated in the 2021 Science Peace Security Conference.

(Stockholm, 14 June 2021) SIPRI today launches the findings of SIPRI Yearbook 2021, which assesses the current state of armaments, disarmament and international security. A key finding is that despite an overall decrease in the number of nuclear warheads in 2020, more have been deployed with operational forces.

On 29 April, SIPRI hosted a virtual workshop on ‘Nuclear CBMs and Transparency in South Asia: Voices from India, Pakistan, China, Russia and the USA’.

On 21–22 April, SIPRI actively participated in the Second German National Dialogue Forum on the Biological Weapons Convention. The event was organized by the German Federal Foreign Office and was held in a virtual format.

SIPRI is pleased to launch a new video series on perceptions of nuclear challenges in South Asia, featuring experts from India, Pakistan, Russia and the United States.

On 8–9 December, SIPRI hosted a virtual workshop on ‘Nuclear challenges in South Asia: Views from India, Pakistan, China, Russia, Australia, New Zealand and the USA’. The event was part of SIPRI’s project on ‘Assessing Nuclear Deterrence Risks and Challenges in South Asia’.

On 29 October, the Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO) launched the Russian edition of SIPRI Yearbook 2019. The virtual event was broadcast from Moscow and featured a special supplement to the translation entitled Russia: Arms Control, Disarmament and International Security.

As part of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC), SIPRI played an active role during its ninth consultative meeting, held virtually on 10–11 September.

On 27 August, SIPRI and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) co-hosted a webinar on ‘The Tenth NPT Review Conference: Effective Measures for Nuclear Disarmament’.

Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) contribute to nuclear risk according to a new report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The authors warn that nuclear-armed states’ competition in military AI and premature adoption of AI in nuclear weapons and related capabilities could have a negative impact on strategic stability and increase the likelihood of nuclear weapon use. The report proposes AI-specific nuclear risk reduction measures and is now available now.

SIPRI today launches the findings of SIPRI Yearbook 2020, which assesses the current state of armaments, disarmament and international security.

SIPRI played an active role at the conference and hosted a roundtable discussion on the theme ‘Artificial Intelligence and Strategic Stability’, chaired by Dan Smith, SIPRI Director, and Dr Sibylle Bauer, Director of Studies, Armament and Disarmament.

On 27–28 November, SIPRI, the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the German Federal Foreign Office co-hosted a meeting on nuclear disarmament.

SIPRI, in collaboration with the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), hosted a panel discussion on world nuclear forces and arms control. The event was part of the Japanese television programme 'Global Agenda' and was broadcast to an international audience on 27 July.

On 21 June, SIPRI, in partnership with the Heinrich Böll Foundation and the European Leadership Network, held a seminar on managing the collapse of the 1987 Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles (INF Treaty).

SIPRI today launches the findings of SIPRI Yearbook 2019, which assesses the current state of armaments, disarmament and international security.

On 7 June, Kolja Brockmann, Researcher in the SIPRI Dual-use and Arms Trade Control Programme, briefed the annual plenary meeting of the Australia Group.

SIPRI discussed two new reports at the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) for the 2020 Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, held at the United Nations in New York on 29 April–10 May 2019.

The reports cover perspectives on the impact of artificial intelligence on strategic stability and nuclear risk, and the operationalization of nuclear disarmament verification.

Ahead of the 2019 Preparatory Committee for the 2020 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York, SIPRI is pleased to announce the release of a new edited volume, the first in a trilogy on regional perspectives, ‘The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Strategic Stability and Nuclear Risk: Euro-Atlantic Perspectives’. Companion volumes offering perspectives from East Asia and South Asia are forthcoming.

(Berlin/Stockholm, 14 March 2019) Advances in additive manufacturing, artificial intelligence and robotics could increase the possibilities for the development, production and use of biological weapons. The existing biological arms control and non-proliferation governance framework needs to be adapted to address these security risks, according to a new report from SIPRI.

On 25–26 February, SIPRI, in partnership with the Pathfinder Foundation in Colombo, Sri Lanka, held the third in a series of workshops on ‘Mapping the Impact of Machine Learning and Autonomy on Strategic Stability and Nuclear Risk’.

SIPRI was involved in several discussions at the 2019 Munich Security Conference, 15–17 February. The theme of this year’s conference was ‘The Great Puzzle: Who Will Pick Up the Pieces?’

SIPRI, in partnership with the Centre for Arab Unity Studies (CAUS) and the Swedish Institute Alexandria, launched the Arabic translation of SIPRI Yearbook 2018.

On 17 December 2018, SIPRI hosted a delegation from the Institute of World Economics and Politics (IWEP).

SIPRI has produced a new series of films that provide Russian perspectives on the landscape of arms control. The interviewees give their assessments of the current obstacles facing the arms control agenda and ways to overcome them. The interviews were recorded in Moscow in October 2018 during a conference co-hosted by SIPRI and IMEMO.

On the occasion of the launch of a new SIPRI report, Nuclear Security in the Black Sea Region: Contested Spaces, National Capacities and Multinational Potential, SIPRI co-hosted two events in Washington, DC, in December.

On 5–7 December, SIPRI, together with the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation, hosted the second in a series of workshops on trilateral dialogue between Japan, South Korea and the United States on nuclear spent fuel strategies and shared security concerns.

SIPRI and the Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO) hosted a conference in Moscow to commemorate 25 years of translation of the SIPRI Yearbook into Russian. The Russian edition of SIPRI Yearbook 2017 was presented at the event.

SIPRI today launches the findings of SIPRI Yearbook 2018, which assesses the current state of armaments, disarmament and international security.

SIPRI, together with Hiroshima Prefecture and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), hosted a side event, ‘Identifying concrete steps to move forward nuclear disarmament’, at the 2018 Preparatory Committee for the 2020 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in Geneva.

The Arabic translation of the SIPRI Yearbook 2017 was launched during a two-day seminar held at the Swedish Institute Alexandria.

Disarmament issues have been at the core of SIPRI’s work since its foundation in 1966. On 10 December 2017, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) will formally receive the Nobel Peace Prize at a ceremony in Oslo. Ahead of the ceremony, SIPRI is pleased to present a primer on the state of nuclear weapons and disarmament.

SIPRI Distinguished Associate Fellow, Dr Lars-Erik Lundin, has been appointed by the government of Sweden to lead an inquiry into the consequences of a possible Swedish accession to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Carnegie Corporation of New York has awarded SIPRI researchers one of its eight grants for addressing emerging threats in nuclear security.

New publication from the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium on the potential benefits of expanding the scope of nuclear forensics as a discipline and the European contribution to this.

Following a competitive process, SIPRI is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York and MacArthur Foundation to support new approaches for nuclear security.

(Stockholm, 3 July 2017) The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) today launches its annual nuclear forces data, which highlights the current trends and developments in world nuclear arsenals. The data shows that while the overall number of nuclear weapons in the world continues to decline, all of the nuclear weapon-possessing states are in the process of modernizing their nuclear arsenals and will not be prepared to give them up for the foreseeable future.

New publication from the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium on the how past events and current international trade practices clearly demonstrate that better-informed export controls and end-user processes are required.

New publication from the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium on why the EU needs to undertake a new and dedicated effort to deal with WMD-related problems

On 5 May, SIPRI received a delegation from Hiroshima Prefectural Government, led by Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki.

SIPRI is pleased to announce the publication of an edited volume of essays, entitled ‘China–Russia Relations and Regional Dynamics: From Pivots to Peripheral Diplomacy’, based on participant contributions to SIPRI’s expert workshop in January 2017 on the theme of Russia-China rapprochement.

SIPRI announces a new publication, entitled ‘China’s engagement of North Korea: Challenges and opportunities for Europe’.

New publication from the EU Non-Proliferation Consortium on the technical limitations of 3D printing technology.

On 17 and 18 January, SIPRI held a workshop entitled ‘Russia-China Rapprochement and its Impact on Asia and Europe’. More than 70 participants were present.

SIPRI is pleased to announce the launch of the new publication 'Reintroducing Disarmament and Cooperative Security in the Toolbox of 21st Century Leaders'.

(Stockholm, 13 June 2016) The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) today launches its annual nuclear forces data, which highlights the current trends and developments in world nuclear arsenals. The data shows that while the overall number of nuclear weapons in the world continues to decline, none of the nuclear weapon-possessing states are prepared to give up their nuclear arsenals for the foreseeable future.

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) today launches the findings of SIPRI Yearbook 2015, which assesses the current state of armaments, disarmament and international security. Key findings include: (1) all the nuclear weapon-possessing states are working to develop new nuclear weapon systems and/or upgrade their existing ones; and (2) the number of personnel deployed with peace operations worldwide continues to fall while the number of peace operations increases.

On 27 April 2015, the opening day of the 2015 Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), at the United Nations in New York, SIPRI organized a discussion forum entitled Promoting a Successful Outcome of the 2015 NPT Review Conference with the collaboration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden.

When agreed in 1987, the Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles (INF Treaty) was considered a landmark of its time. Now it is on the verge of collapse.

The event will be held virtually at 15:00 (Stockholm) // 09:00 (New York).

This seminar will explore questions about the past and future of the NPT. Why was it decided to extend the treaty indefinitely in 1995? What commitments made that extension possible? Have they been upheld?

The discussion will bring together distinguished experts from the United States, Europe and Iran to provide their insights on the current situation and to assess potential consequences for transatlantic relations as well as for regional stability in the Middle East.

This webinar brings together a distinguished panel of technical and policy experts to discuss the challenges additive manufacturing (AM) poses to export controls, and how they can be addressed through national and multilateral export control instruments such as the MTCR.

This hybrid event will present the results of a research project on the topic of nuclear security during armed conflict.

To launch her new book, SIPRI Distinguished Associate Fellow Dr Tarja Cronberg will participate in an event about nuclear multilateralism and Iran.

The conversation will explore the current state of nuclear arms control and disarmament efforts, looking ahead to the NPT Review Conference in August. It will also be an opportunity to discuss the latest developments in the control of chemical and biological weapons, emerging technologies and international arms transfers.

This webinar brings together a distinguished panel of space, missile and export control experts from research, industry and policy to discuss the challenges the NewSpace industry poses to missile non-proliferation and export controls.

This workshop will look at the evolving dimensions of Russia–China relations through Russia’s 'pivot to Asia' strategy and China’s 'peripheral diplomacy' approach.

This workshop convened Japanese, Chinese, South Korean, European and United States experts from technical, legal and academic communities to re-evaluate the threats posed by weapons of mass destruction and hazardous materials in a changing global environment and, in particular, the implications for East Asia.

This joint event by SIPRI and the Alva Myrdal Centre for Nuclear Disarmament at Uppsala University considers the prospects for nuclear arms control and disarmament. The event will be held against the backdrop of the current strategic nuclear arsenals of China, Russia and the United States, and the relations between these three countries.

Dr. Yongsoo Hwang will discuss North Korea's key nuclear installations and their role in nuclear testing.

SIPRI hosted the 2017 EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Conference at Egmont Palace in Brussels on 12–13 December 2017.

This webinar will discuss United States–Russia strategic stability issues, including future risk reduction measures, nuclear and conventional arms control, and military confidence building.

On 8–14 November, SIPRI will convene the seventh annual Stockholm Security Conference, this year under the heading of ‘Trends of Conflict and Warfare in the 21st Century: Effects and Impact of the War in Ukraine’.

This event discusses how the international community can prevent further nuclear testing in future.