Since Russia decided to invade Ukraine, territorial tensions have increased around the world and the specter of a Third World War continues to loom over the world. A global conflict would also mean the likely use of nuclear weapons.
Currently, they are nine countries which possess atomic weapons: United States, Russia, China, France, United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel.
But in the near future, this list could be supplemented by six more. This is what an article published by the Daily Mailwhich has prepared a list of countries which are studying the possibility of incorporate the atomic bomb into their arsenals.
Iran
Iran is one of the main threats to world peace. The regime of the ayatollahs is not only a danger in itself, but it also gives economic, political and military support to terrorist groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis and other Islamist groups.
According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a defense and security think tank based in Washington, D.C., Iran has the “largest and most diverse” missile arsenal in the Middle East. Its arsenal currently includes a few 3,000 ballistic missileswith a range of between 300 and 6,000 kilometers.
The United States and Israel are actively working to prevent Iran from carrying out its dangerous atomic program. The problem is that Iran, unlike the other countries on this list, is already a pariah state and is not a signatory to international treaties prohibiting the development of nuclear weapons, as Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Saudi Arabia
Precisely, the specter of Iranian nuclear proliferation influences the strategic perspective of Saudi Arabia and directly affects the Kingdom’s thinking on the merits of acquiring nuclear weapons.
The two countries are engaged in a bitter and enduring rivalry in the battle for regional hegemony. Competition between religious ideologies – Iran is a Shiite state, while the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is Sunni – fuels the enmity between the two countries.
For Riyadh, Iran’s support for terrorist organizations throughout the region, particularly in Yemen, has long been a strategic concern. The two countries They have been waging a proxy war in Yemen since at least 2011.
Sectarian proxy wars have also taken place between the two countries in Iraq, Lebanon and Syria. In addition to state sponsorship of regional terrorism, Riyadh’s perception of threat towards Tehran is aggravated by vast ballistic capacity of the Shiite state.
Iranian missiles threaten the vital interests of Saudi Arabia. It is for this reason that Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman, known as MBS, has expressed interest in developing nuclear weapons to deter Iran.
Japan
Japan is the only country in the world to have been attacked with a nuclear bomb, specifically two, those at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which ended World War II. Japan is now reportedly considering joining the nuclear club given that Asia is the most nuclear-armed region in the world. The proximity of hostile nuclear regimes like China and North Korea and the risk of a Third World War starting with an invasion of Taiwan by Communist China are also key.
The new Japanese Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichiindicated that Japan was actively considering the nuclear option. His government has already begun a review of Japan’s nuclear policy.
South Korea
Permanently threatened by North Korea, South Korean citizens are increasingly OK with that country’s government acquiring nuclear weapons.
Poland
The war in neighboring Ukraine has once again highlighted the need for Warsaw to build stronger defenses. In March 2025, Defense of Donadthe Polish Prime Minister, expressed Poland’s desire to acquire nuclear energy-related capabilities.
If Poland fails to acquire its own nuclear capability, it will seek to deepen security cooperation agreements with its allies, which would involve being under the French or American nuclear umbrella.
Türkiye
Turkey is the most unstable member of the NATO alliance and often undermines alliance cohesion. Faced with the threat posed by Iran, Turkey, like Saudi Arabia, has said it would seek an independent nuclear capability if the Shiite country develops its own. Turkey has also expressed concerns about Israeli nuclear weapons.
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