Early 2022, the world's nuclear arsenal stood at nearly 13,000 deployed, held in reserve or awaiting decommissioning, according to the latest estimates by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
This stockpile is currently distributed among the nine nuclear powers: the United States, Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom, Israel, India, Pakistan and North Korea. https://sipri.org/sites/default/files/YB22%2010%20World%20Nuclear%20Forces.pdf
China is the country that has expanded its arsenal the most in recent years, from less than 300 warheads in 2019 to around 350 today. China has thus become the third-largest nuclear nation, just ahead of France, which currently has an estimated 290 nuclear warheads.
However, Russia and the United States remain far ahead and still possess about 90% of the world's nuclear weapons. These two countries engaged in an intense arms race during the Cold War and still have several thousand nuclear bombs in their stockpiles, over 5,900 ( Russia ) and 5,400 warheads (USA) respectively.
US nuclear weapons - including B61 nuclear bombs - are stored in at least 6 military air bases in several European countries.
According to an article published by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), these include Kleine Brogel in Belgium, Büchel in Germany, Aviano and Ghedi in Italy, Volkel in the Netherlands and Incirlik in Turkey. Incirlik is right in the disaster area where severe earthquakes took place very recently.
FAS researchers estimate that around 100 US nuclear bombs are currently deployed in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Turkey. The presence of these weapons stems from a Cold War agreement in the 1960s to deter the Soviet Union and convince the countries involved that there was no need to launch their own nuclear weapons programme.
In addition to about 100 US bombs, the region also houses 290 bombs from the French nuclear arsenal and 225 from the British arsenal (according to the latest estimates). The map below shows the locations and military bases housing nuclear weapons of NATO member states in Europe.
In France, the Valduc site, north of Dijon, is known to specialise in the manufacture, maintenance and decommissioning of nuclear warheads. Missiles are also stored at several military bases in France: at Ile Longue, in the port of Brest, where the Strategic Oceanic Force's nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines are stationed, and at Istres, Saint-Dizier and Avord air bases.
In the UK, nuclear weapons are produced, maintained and dismantled at Aldermaston and Burghfield, about 50 km from London. Nuclear missiles are also stored at the naval bases at Faslane and Coulport in Scotland, where UK deterrent force submarines are stationed.
According to information released by the FAS in April, Lakenheath Air Force Base in England was recently added to the list of US Air Force nuclear weapons storage sites. So it could soon (if not already) be a home for US bombs.
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