The U.S. currently has a stockpile of 3,750 nuclear warheads, with an additional 2,000 warheads awaiting decommissioning. Experts say that even 1/50 of that number would be enough to destroy the Earth.
This is the first time in four years that the scale of the U.S. nuclear arsenal has been revealed. During the Trump administration, the number of nuclear warheads held by the U.S. military was kept secret. However, with President Joe Biden’s efforts to achieve a arms control treaty with Russia, the U.S. Department of State has released the latest figures.
The U.S. currently possesses 3,750 warheads, along with 2,000 ‘retired’ warheads waiting to be decommissioned. This number marks a significant reduction from the Cold War peak of 31,000 in 1967, yet it remains sufficient to end modern civilization as we know it.
In 1967, the U.S. held over 30,000 nuclear warheads. Photo: Getty
The statistics have been kept confidential since early 2018. President Trump refused to disclose the specific numbers despite requests from the Federation of American Scientists (FAS).
“As the first nation to possess nuclear weapons, Washington should strive to set an example for global clarity and transparency in nuclear weapons policy by disclosing the current size of its stockpile,” the group stated in a press release.
In a recent report, FAS stated: “We commend the Biden administration for restoring transparency regarding the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile.” They added, “This decision is a significant step forward at this time.”
The current U.S. nuclear arsenal is sufficient to destroy the world 50 times over. Photo: Getty
A study published in 2018 in the journal Safety indicated that countries possessing more than 100 nuclear warheads are considered a significant threat. Professor Joshua Pearce from Michigan Technological University and David Denkenberger, assistant professor at Tennessee State University and director of the Alliance to Feed the Earth in Disasters, wrote: “More than 100 nuclear warheads is too many; furthermore, using government funds to maintain more than 100 nuclear weapons is highly unreasonable.” Detonating more than 100 nuclear warheads would cause irreparable damage to the global ecosystem and lead to environmental repercussions that could plunge the entire planet into a perpetual winter.
Kate Hudson, Secretary General of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), told the Daily Star: “The U.S. reducing its nuclear stockpile and enhancing transparency is very welcome. It’s time for Boris Johnson to follow Biden’s lead. In March of this year, the British Prime Minister announced an increase in the country’s nuclear arsenal while ending nuclear transparency. If we want a safer world, we need to stop that now!”
