Ludmila Bozhko. The number of nuclear weapons in the world continues to shrink rapidly and at the same time it is upgraded. About It the press service of the Stockholm international Institute for the study of peace SIPRI in connection with the publication on the first day of the week annual data on stocks of nuclear weapons in the world.

Analysts SIPRI write that according to the information at the beginning of 2015 at the disposal of nine States, namely the U.S., Russia, Britain, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea, was in total, about fifteen thousand 850 nuclear weapons. It is smaller in comparison with 2014, the beginning of which there were about 16 350 weapons, explained the Analysts of the Institute.

according to experts, of these weapons was considered operational, approximately 4 thousand 300 units.

By publishing the data on nuclear forces, experts SIPRI not already 1st year state that their decrease is mainly due to the further reduction of nuclear stockpiles of the US and Russia, for a total share of about 90% of the world's stockpile of nuclear weapons. Today, however, this process goes slower than 10 years ago, according to SIPRI. At the same time, experts continue, in the long-term programs of both States - further modernization of nuclear weapons.

stocks of other nuclear countries are not large, However, all these countries develop or deploy fresh delivery system of nuclear weapons, or announced similar programs, according to SIPRI.



While on the subject of international peace operations, SIPRI experts noticed that their Number has increased significantly and at the same time the Number of participating fell. According to analysts, in 2014 were held to 62 entries, which is 3 more in comparison with the previous period. The number of staff in peacekeeping operations, including the International force security assistance (ISAF) in Afghanistan, declined by 20% over the past year to 162 052. However, according to SIPRI, the Number of participants in missions even without considering the ISAF remained in the intervening period is still high.

Analysts believe that with the departure of ISAF has significantly increased the need for peacekeeping operations in Africa. For all of 2014 were launched 7 new operations, four of which are in Africa. 3 other missions were launched outside of the African continent and as the reply on the conflict in Ukraine.

"The peacekeeping operation, despite all the criticism and pessimism, are very successful. International Commonwealth invests more in them because in many cases they remain the best available tool in crisis management ", - said the head of the SIPRI programme on research peacekeeping missions Jair van der Lijn.

filed on the first day of the week data on stocks of nuclear weapons and peacekeeping missions are part of a collection of materials SIPRI for 2015. This journal is an annual, and describes trends in the field of armaments, disarmament and international security in the world. Separate the head of the collection SIPRI researchers have already shown in the beginning of winter 2014, March and April. Published data concerned the ranking of the world's arms manufacturers, and trends in the field of arms trade and military expenditures.

Stockholm international research Institute of peace SIPRI was established in 1966 and is an independent think-tank engaged in research on conflicts, weapons, observations of armament and disarmament.

sections: Politics