Home » India, Russia, US and 6 other nations have nuclear weapons, Why other countries are unable to make it?

India, Russia, US and 6 other nations have nuclear weapons, Why other countries are unable to make it?

World

India, Russia, US and 6 other nations have nuclear weapons, Why other countries are unable to make it?

by
December 30, 2024February 12, 2023
India, Russia, US and 6 other nations have nuclear weapons, Why other countries are unable to make it?

  • Home
  • News
  • India, Russia, US and 6 other nations have nuclear weapons, Why other countries are unable to make it?

Under this treaty, only the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, China, and France are permitted to possess nuclear weapons, as these countries had conducted nuclear tests before the treaty came into effect.

New Delhi: Nine countries in the world, the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel, possess nuclear weapons. Among these nations, Russia has the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons, with 5,580 warheads. It is followed by the United States, which has 5,044 nuclear weapons. In total, the world possesses 12,121 nuclear weapons, with Russia and the United States collectively accounting for 90 percent of the global arsenal.

A question might arise: why do only nine countries possess nuclear weapons? There are many other nations that are not lagging behind in terms of military power and economy. Despite this, these countries have chosen not to develop nuclear bombs and remain unarmed. Let’s explore why.

Treaty That Prevents Nuclear Weapons

Despite being one of the powerful nations, countries like Germany, South Korea, Japan, and Australia are yet to possess nuclear weapons. The reason behind this is the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The treaty was adopted in 1968 and enforced in 1970; it aims to protect the world from the threat of nuclear weapons. To date, 190 countries have signed this treaty. It was designed to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and curb nuclear testing. Under this treaty, only the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, China, and France are permitted to possess nuclear weapons, as these countries had conducted nuclear tests before the treaty came into effect.

How Did India and Pakistan Develop Nuclear Weapons?

  • The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) permits only the USA, Russia, the UK, China, and France to possess nuclear weapons.
  • This raises the question of how India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel managed to develop their own nuclear arsenals.
  • India and Pakistan never signed the treaty, effectively bypassing its restrictions. North Korea was initially a part of the treaty but withdrew after conducting nuclear tests.
  • Similarly, Israel is believed to have developed its nuclear weapons program covertly, without formally acknowledging or signing the treaty.