Why Do Only 10 Out of 195 Countries Have Nuclear Weapons?

The fifth country was China. During the Korean War, America threatened China with nuclear weapons. Chinese leader Mao Zedong realized China would never be respected without nuclear capability.

Initially, the Soviet Union helped China, but later relations worsened. Russia withdrew its scientists and support. China continued alone and successfully tested its first bomb in 1964, naming it “596” as a reminder of Soviet betrayal in June 1959.

The sixth country was Israel. Israel has never officially confirmed or denied possessing nuclear weapons, but it is widely believed to have them.

This secret might have remained hidden if not for Mordechai Vanunu, a technician who leaked photos and documents from Israel’s nuclear facility in 1986.

Israel had already worked with France on nuclear research and wanted nuclear weapons due to threats from neighboring Arab countries. President Kennedy strongly opposed this program, but after his assassination, Israel’s path became much easier. By 1967, Israel had reportedly completed its program in great secrecy.

When Vanunu exposed the secrets in 1986, Israel’s intelligence agency allegedly used a honey-trap operation to capture him and bring him back to Israel, where he spent many years in prison.

The seventh country was India. Indian scientists had been researching nuclear technology even before partition. Initially, the goal was peaceful energy production. But the Sino-Indian War changed everything.

After China tested a nuclear bomb in 1964, India saw nuclear weapons as essential. In 1974, India conducted its first nuclear test in Rajasthan under the name Smiling Buddha.

India claimed it was a “peaceful nuclear explosion,” but America and Canada were furious because their technology had been used in the program. India later refused to sign the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

The eighth country was South Africa. Its story is unique because it is the only country to voluntarily dismantle its nuclear arsenal.

During the apartheid era, South Africa feared Soviet influence and regional instability. Israel reportedly helped South Africa with weapons and nuclear research in exchange for uranium.

In 1979, an incident called the Vela incident occurred, where American satellites detected flashes believed by many experts to be a joint Israeli-South African nuclear test.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, South Africa dismantled all of its nuclear weapons.

The ninth country was Pakistan. Its nuclear journey accelerated after the 1971 war with India and India’s Smiling Buddha test in 1974.

Abdul Qadeer Khan, a Pakistani scientist working in the Netherlands, obtained information about uranium enrichment technology and brought it to Pakistan. China also supported Pakistan as a counterbalance to India.

In 1998, after India conducted multiple nuclear tests, Pakistan responded with its own tests in the Ras Koh mountains.

Later, Pakistan faced accusations of sharing nuclear technology with Iran, Libya, and North Korea. In 2004, Abdul Qadeer Khan publicly admitted his involvement and spent years under house arrest.

The tenth and latest country to develop nuclear weapons was North Korea. Its founder, Kim Il-sung, believed nuclear weapons were necessary to defend against America and South Korea.

Although the Soviet Union initially helped North Korea with peaceful nuclear technology, both Russia and China later refused to assist with weapons development.

North Korea secretly continued its efforts. Experts believe Pakistan helped North Korea by exchanging uranium-enrichment knowledge for missile technology. In 2006, North Korea conducted its first nuclear test, followed by a much stronger test in 2009.

Today, many believe Iran could become the next nuclear power. Israel strongly opposes Iran’s nuclear ambitions, while Mohammed bin Salman has stated that if Iran develops nuclear weapons, Saudi Arabia may follow as well.