Donald Trump has ordered his Department of Defense (recently renamed the Department of War) to “begin testing” America’s nuclear weapons. This announcement, in which he directly refers to Russia and China, also comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin challenged him with a test of a nuclear-capable underwater drone.
“The United States has more nuclear weapons than any other country,” he said. “Russia is second and China a distant third, but they will catch up within five years.”
The Russian president welcomed on Sunday the successful final test of the Bourevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile, which has “unlimited range” and is capable, according to him, of defeating almost all interception systems.
The Kremlin on Thursday toned down its recent announcements about tests of a Russian underwater drone and a nuclear-capable missile, stressing that they are not “nuclear tests” in the strict sense, following US President Donald Trump’s decision to restart nuclear weapons testing.
Nine Gifted Powers
Globally, only nine countries have nuclear weapons: China, North Korea, the United States, France, India, Israel, Pakistan, the United Kingdom and Russia. The annual assessment by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri) reports a total inventory of “around 12,241 warheads” (data from January 2025). This number is distributed among warheads in military arsenals (“for potential use”), that is, “almost 9,614” examples, and approximately 3,912 are deployed with missiles and aircraft.
These figures are also cited by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS). The exact number of nuclear weapons of each country is kept secret to ensure the principle of deterrence.
According to estimates for 2025 from the FAS and Sipri, which share the same figures, the United States and Russia concentrate almost 90% of the nuclear warheads: 3,700 for the United States, 4,309 for Russia. China is in third place, far behind, with 600 warheads. France is in fourth place, with 290 warheads, followed by the United Kingdom with 225 warheads. Then come India (180 warheads), Pakistan (170), Israel (90) and North Korea (50).
For decades, France was the world’s third nuclear power. Ahead of the United Kingdom and China. But Beijing has accelerated the development of its arsenal, especially since 2020. China, which had “only” 270 warheads in 2015, according to Sipri had 350 in 2021, then 410 in 2023, 500 in 2024 and, therefore, 600 in 2025.
Given the expiration next February of New START, a treaty signed in 2010 aimed at reducing and limiting offensive strategic armaments, Sipri predicts that the United States and Russia should increase “the number of warheads deployed on their strategic missiles.”
France renews its capabilities
As a gifted nation, France has one of two permanent nuclear components: the strategic air forces (FAS) and the strategic oceanic forces (FOST), as well as a “contingent” component, the Naval Nuclear Air Force. There was also a land component, between 1971 and 1991.
The renewal of capabilities to guarantee a permanent deterrent force is done “in the logic of fair sufficiency and credibility,” according to the Military Programming Law 2024-2030.
The FAS, operational since 1964, currently consists of two-seat Rafales, equipped with improved medium-range air-to-surface missiles (ASMP-A). This missile will be replaced between now and 2035 by the ASN4G (fourth generation air-to-ground nuclear), on which MBDA is currently working, in collaboration with the National Office for Aerospace Studies and Research (Onera).
Underwater are four nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBN, one of which permanently patrols at sea) carrying M51 strategic ballistic missiles, designed by ArianeGroup. The Ministry of the Armed Forces announced the entry into operational service of the most modern version, the M51.3, on October 24. The next version, the M51.4, is already in development.
In an interview with the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Emmanuel Macron announced in early October that he would deliver a speech “in early 2026” on the French nuclear doctrine, currently being “updated.” In July, the French president signed a declaration with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer that would pave the way for a “coordinated” nuclear deterrent.
Source: BFM TV
