SIPRI researchers warn of increased nuclear threat

One of the major concerns is that Russia and the United States have moved nuclear warheads from their stockpiles to mount on ballistic missiles at high alert, according to SIPRI's annual assessment of the state of arms, disarmament and international security. In addition, modernization programs are underway that are likely to increase the size of the nuclear-weapon states' arsenals.

"Efforts to reduce the role and number of nuclear weapons are being set back several decades," SIPRI writes in a press release.

Karim Haggag, head of SIPRI, says in a statement that the nuclear risk increases when countries make their national defenses dependent on nuclear weapons.