India Ranked Fifth-Largest Defence Spender as SIPRI Reports Expansion of Nuclear Arsenal and Military Modernisation
India has been ranked as the world’s fifth-largest defence spender in the latest SIPRI report, which estimates its nuclear arsenal at 190 warheads, surpassing Pakistan’s 170. The report underscores accelerating military modernisation, expansion of long-range capabilities, and concerns over strategic stability amid regional tensions following the May 2025 India-Pakistan crisis.
According to the report, India is rapidly accelerating its military modernisation programme. It is expanding long-range operational capabilities while preparing to address security challenges across multiple fronts. The developments indicate a sustained push to strengthen strategic deterrence and defence readiness.
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute further highlights a broader global pattern marked by record-level military spending, continued expansion of nuclear arsenals, and increasing concerns regarding long-term strategic stability. The trends reflect an intensifying global security environment where major powers are reinforcing their military capacities.
The findings collectively underscore a shifting global defence landscape, with rising military expenditure and nuclear modernisation reinforcing geopolitical tensions and reshaping strategic balances across regions.SA

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