Nuclear powers
There are currently five nations considered to be "nuclear weapons nations", an internationally recognized status conferred by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. In order of acquisition of nuclear weapons these are: The United States of America, Russia, The United Kingdom, France, and China. Since the nuclear tests conducted by India and Pakistan, both nations have publicly declared themselves to be in possession of a nuclear arsenal, but this status is not formally recognized by international bodies; neither of the two countries have signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Declared nuclear states in order of number of deployed weapons
The following is a list of nations that have admitted the possession of nuclear weapons, and the approximate number of warheads under their control, and the year they tested their first weapon. This list is informally known in global politics as the "Nuclear Club".
From a high of 65,000 weapons in 1985, there were about 40,000 nuclear weapons in the world in 2002.
(Statistics from National Resources Defense Council )
Suspected nuclear states
Countries believed to have or sometimes suspected of having at least one unconfirmed nuclear weapon currently, or at some point in history, or research programs with a realistic chance of producing a nuclear weapon in the near future:
- Israel - It is questionable whether Israel should be classed as a "suspected state" at this point. Israel is not a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and refuses to officially admit or deny having a nuclear arsenal, or to having developed nuclear weapons, or even to having a nuclear weapons program. Although former Prime Minister Shimon Peres unofficially acknowledged this last fact in the summer of 1998, extensive information about this program in Dimona was disclosed by physicist Mordechai Vanunu in 1986, and imagery analysts can identify weapon bunkers, mobile missile launchers, and launch sites in satellite photographs. It is clear though that Israel can deploy or employ nuclear weapons at will, and it is suspected to possess nuclear weapons by the International Atomic Energy Agency. According to the National Resources Defense Council and the Federation of American Scientists, they may possess 100-200 weapons. However until it admits to having an actual stockpile of weapons, it will be retained on the "suspect" list for the present time.
- Iran - Iran signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and says its interest in nuclear technology, including enrichment, was for civilian purposes only, but the CIA claims this to be a cover for a nuclear weapons program. The Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi stated on the intentions of his country's nuclear ambitions: "Iran has a high technical capability and has to be recognized by the international community as a member of the nuclear club. This is an irreversible path."
- North Korea - On January 10, 2003 North Korea withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Allegedly they have since announced their possession of several nuclear weapons to US diplomats.
- Ukraine - signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Inherited about 5,000 nuclear weapons when it became independent in 1991. It transferred all of these to Russia by 1996. However recent news has surfaced that due to a clerical error, Ukraine may still possess several hundred warheads which were not accounted for in the armaments repatriation move 14 years ago. In any case, even if Ukraine does possess these weapons, they are technically missing and not in a deployed state or any part of Ukraine's defense posture.
- Australia - From 1950 to the early 1970s Australia first attempted to gain access to British nuclear technology, then investigated a fully indigenous nuclear program on a number of occasions, going so far as to plan and begin clearing a site for a plutonium-producting nuclear reactor at Jarvis Bay in 1969, but abandoned its efforts at that time. Australia has large indigenous supplies of uranium. Currently Australia's uranium exports policy prevents export for military purposes, but there have been allegations about Australian uranium ending up in nuclear weapons. Curiously for an industrialized nation that is also a major uranium supplier, Australia has no nuclear power plants. There are however, several nuclear reactors in Australia that produce radioactive materials mainly for medical purposes. Australia has signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and is now one of the strongest supporters of anti-profileration efforts. However in recent years several illicit internal informants within the ADF have leaked rumours that Australia received a small number of warheads from allies (most probably the United States) during the high-risk tension with Indonesia while intervening in East Timor.
States formerly possessing nuclear weapons or programs
These are nations known to have initiated serious nuclear weapons programs, with varying degrees of success. All of them are now regarded as currently no longer actively developing, or possessing, nuclear arms.
- Argentina - Conducted a nuclear weapon research program, under military rule in 1978. This program was abandoned after returning to civilian rule in 1983. Later Argentina signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
- Belarus - A few Eastern European countries inherited whatever nuclear stockpiles happened to be stationed in their territory after the Soviet Union colapsed in 1991. Belarus had 81 single warhead missiles which it returned to Russia by 1996. Belarus signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
- Brazil - Conducted a nuclear weapon research program to acquire nuclear weapons code-named "Solimões" in 1978 under military rule. On 13 July 1998 President Fernando Henrique Cardoso signed and ratified both the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), denying that Brazil had developed nuclear weapons
- Egypt - Had a nuclear weapon research program 1954-1967. Egypt signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
- Germany - During World War II Germany researched possibilities to develop a nuclear weapon. This program was however not finished and was actually far from producing a workable weapon. Nowadays Germany is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. It has an advanced science and technology base capable of producing a nuclear program, but the government even decided to taper off the civil use of nuclear energy.
- Iraq - Signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Had a nuclear weapon research program during the 1980s and 1990s. In 1996, the UN's Hans Blix reported that Iraq had dismantled or destroyed all of their nuclear capabilities. Exact dates remain disputed.
- Japan - Japan conducted research into nuclear weapons during World War II though made little headway. Japan signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. While Japan has the technological capabilities to develop nuclear weapons in a short time there is no evidence they are doing so. Japan's constitution forbids it from producing nuclear weapons and the country has been active in promoting non-proliferation treaties. There exists some suspicion that there may exist nuclear weapons located in US bases in Japan.
- Kazakhstan - Inherited 1,400 nuclear weapons from Soviet Union, returned them all to Russia by 1995. Signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
- Libya - Signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. On December 19, 2003, Libya admitted having had a nuclear weapon programme and simultaneously announced its intention to end it and dismantle all existing Weapons of Mass Destruction to be verified by unconditional inspections.
- Romania - Signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. In spite of this, under Ceauşescu, in the 1980s, Romania had a secret nuclear-weapons development program, that was stopped after the overthrow of Ceauşescu in 1989.
- South Africa - Produced 6 nuclear weapons in the 1980s but disassembled them in the early 1990s. Signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
- South Korea - Began a nuclear weapons program in the early 1970s, which was believed abandoned after signing NPT in 1975. However there has been allegations that program may have been continued after this date by the military government.
- Sweden - During the '50s and '60s Sweden seriously investigated nuclear weapons. A very substantial research effort of weapon design and manufacture was conducted resulting in enough knowledge to allow Sweden to manufacture nuclear weapons. However Sweden decided not to pursue a weapon production program and signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
- Switzerland - During 1946-1969 Switzerland had secret nuclear program that came into light in 1995. By 1963 theoretical basics with detailed technical proposals, specific arsenals, and cost estimates for Swiss nuclear armaments were made. This program was however abandoned partly because of financial costs and by signing the NPT on 27 November 1969.
- Taiwan - Conducted a nuclear weapon research program in the 1970s. Signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Other nuclear capable states
Virtually any industrialized nation today has the technical capability to develop nuclear weapons within several years if the decision to do so were made. Nations already possessing substantial nuclear technology and arms industries could do so in no more than a year or two. The larger industrial nations (Japan and Germany for example) could, within several years of deciding to do so, build arsenals rivaling those planned by Russia and the U.S. This list below mentions some notable capabilities possessed by certain states that could potentially be turned to the development of nuclear arsenals. It should also be noted that this list represents only strong nuclear capability, not that any political will to develop such weapon would exist. All of the listed countries signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
- Canada - Canada has a well developed nuclear technology base and large uranium reserves. While Canada has the technological capabilities to develop nuclear weapons, there is no hard evidence they are or have ever done so.
- Netherlands - Operates two power reactors producing 539 MW electrical, 5% of its electrical needs. Several Dutch companies are key participants in the tri-national URENCO uranium enrichment consortium. By the year 2000 the Netherlands had about 2 tonnes of separated reactor grade plutonium. There is no evidence about past or present nuclear weapon program in the Netherlands.
- Saudi Arabia - In 2003 members of the government stated due to the worsening relations with the USA, Saudi Arabia was being forced to consider the development of nuclear weapons. However, so far they have denied that they are making any attempt to produce them.
- Yugoslavia - Yugoslavia's nuclear ambitions began as early as 1950's when scientists considered both uranium enrichment and plutonium reprocessing. In 1956, the Vinca fuel reprocessing site was constructed, followed by research reactors in 1958 and 1959, for which the Soviets provided heavy water and enriched uranium. In 1966, plutonium reprocessing tests began in Vinca laboratories, resulting in gram quantities of reprocessed plutonium. During the 1950's and 1960's there was also cooperation in plutonium processing between Yugoslavia and Norway. In the year 1960 Tito froze the nuclear programme for unknown reasons, but restarted it, after India's first nuclear tests, in 1974. The programme continued even after Tito's death in 1980, divided into two components - for weapons design and civilian nuclear energy, until a decision to stop all nuclear weapons research was made in July 1987. The civilian nuclear programme however resulted in the Kr?ko nuclear power plant in Slovenia, built in 1983, now co-owned by Croatia. During the NATO raids, Vinca has never been hit - Americans were aware of 50 kilograms of highly enriched uranium stored at the site - it may have been a reason for the NATO intervention. After the end of NATO bombings the U.S. government and the Nuclear Threat Initiative transported the HEU to Russia - the place from which Yugoslavia originaly aquired it.
See also
