Nuclear Weapons and Security Policy: Past and Present
Beyond Warfare: The Risks and Consequences of Nuclear Weapons

Why Do Nations Develop and Test Nuclear Weapons?

As of 2023, nine nations possess nuclear weapons. The reasons why each nation chose to develop them vary but often fall into two categories: deterrence and prestige.

Deterrence

Deterrence means possessing a nuclear weapon in order to discourage and prevent other nations from attacking. Pairs of adversaries, like the United States and Russia, or India and Pakistan, often cite deterrence as a motivation for possessing nuclear weapons.

  • Supporters of deterrence argue that since World War II, there have been no nuclear weapons used in warfare and credit deterrence for preventing nuclear war. 
  • Supporters of deterrence often believe that because nuclear technology exists, it cannot be reversed and eliminated from possible military use. If a nuclear nation considers itself stable and rational, it will not want to disarm and potentially allow less rational, unstable nations to be the only powers to possess these weapons.
What do we mean when we speak of "nuclear deterrence''? Certainly, we don't want such weapons for their own sake. . . . Basically, it's a matter of others knowing that starting a conflict would be more costly to them than anything they might hope to gain. And, yes, it is sadly ironic that in these modern times, it still takes weapons to prevent war. I wish it did not.
–President Reagan, 1982

Prestige

Nations also develop nuclear weapons for prestige, or high status and respect. At the end of World War II, both the United Kingdom and France considered deterrence important and also realized that their standing as global leaders had faded. Therefore, another reason that they pursued nuclear weapons was to gain respect as powerful nations. Decades later, North Korea wanted to be considered a global power, built a nuclear arsenal, and gained international attention because of its nuclear capability. North Korea’s leaders believe that this prestige gives them power domestically and globally.

Televised North Korean military parade, 2023.

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Why Do Nations Test?
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Whether developing weapons for deterrence or prestige, nuclear nations conduct nuclear weapon testing. Sometimes this is for research on the weapons’ powers or effects, and other times it is to signal nuclear capability to other nations.

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