Why do some countries feel they’re entitled to hold nuclear weapons and others can’t?

[Changingplace]

Considering the USA is the only country ever to have used a nuclear weapon on war, why do some countries consider themselves entitled to them and others not?

Especially considering the more recent instability of the US, much as I might not agree with the politics of countries who don’t hold them/are stopped from developing them, surely they’re within their rights to be able to defend themselves in the same way as anyone else?

The UK and the US developed the nuclear bomb - they got there first so I suppose they decide.

Do you think the West is wrong to intervene? Should we sit back and let anyone who wants to develop a nuclear bomb do so? Even if they are explicitly telling you they’re going to use it to eradicate you and spread their woman hating oppressive Islamist regime further ?

It's very arbitrary, that's the problem. The West seems to pick and choose which atrocities it takes umbrage with. Sometimes it supports the atrocities, sometimes it commits them and sometimes it decides that bombing out the atrocities is the best way forward.

So what are you suggesting we do?

It's a complex question as it's tied up with economics. We shouldn't interfere in the democratic processes of other countries eg Iran, we shouldn't bomb other countries eg Iraq and we shouldn't support genocide eg Israel.

Iran's democratic processes 🤣🤣🤣

What are Iran’s democratic processes? Do they approve of the torture and execution of women who transgress dress laws?

Iran is evidently not a democracy. I'm talking about 1953:
https://www.npr.org/2019/01/31/690363402/how-the-cia-overthrew-irans-democracy-in-four-days

Oh, OK; yes.

There's a Nuclear Non-Prolifiration Treaty (NPT) that binds the countries with nuclear power to use it responsibly according to international standards and not unilaterally for their own gain, and which binds signatory countries who do not have the capability from developing it. The NPT has been frayed because countries do not abide by it or even by the specific agreements which bound parties in the aftermath of the nuclear power the USSR breaking up. At that time, successors including Ukraine and Belarus were asked to give up nuclear weapons with the promise that international powers including Russia, UK, France, China, and the USA would guarantee to protect them as non-nuclear powers. Those promises were not honoured by Russia all of their signatories, and that is how we are here today.

Well - if a country is fearful of another country using a nuclear weapon against it, then shouldn't they be able to have nuclear weapons to have as a deterrent.

We have nuclear weapons. We have them because we worry that another country who has nuclear weapons could leverage that against us. But we have weapons as a deterrent.

What if a country developed a technology even more powerful than a nuclear weapon?

Who then gets to decide who else can have it?

Agree with this. Our interference in these regions has nearly always destabilised their democratic governments. It’s as if no one will buy our weapons if there are no wars and war mongers.

We have signed on the NPT. Iran was in discussions to sign it and was allowing international reviews on their land. That is very much unlike Israel and its war criminal regime that has refused to sign the NPT, have never accepted they have nuclear weapons and have never permitted any international reviews.
With their history of ruthless killing, Israeli regime needs reigning in. It is their actions that have now ensured that Iran gets a nuclear weapon.
And Israel was emboldened by Trump. I don’t believe this would have happened under Biden or Kamala. Hope MAGA learn something from this.

Before I answer your other post just to clarify do you think any country should have nuclear weaponry

And that includes Iran?

No one should have nuclear weapons. It’s an insane route of destruction from which we cannot turn back.
However, as we cannot see Israel giving up their nuclear weapons, there is little chance of Iran not getting it especially as they are physically very close to Russia, China and Pakistan, three major nuclear powers with loss of weapons to sell (just like we are selling our weapons to Israel).

A lot of this is Trump. Didn't he overturn Obama's agreement with Iran in 2018? Then he faffed around with these current negotiations and Israel grabbed their opportunity to bomb yet another country.

That is an excellent and lucid article.
Thank you so much for sharing.

On the contrary, this article is a fallacy. Iran was ready to sign on NPT and their constitution/religious beliefs consider nuclear weapons to be ‘haraam’, that is, completely prohibited.
that is very much unlike the Israeli regime and the blood thirst they have demonstrated: Israel has not signed the NPT despite their nuclear weapons being no secret.

The military industrial complex and its propaganda machinery is in full motion right now.

Why are you making it specific?

Someone has a gun. They have a gun to defend themselves. They say they won't use that gun against someone else. But a gun is a powerful weapon if you don't have a gun. Should that other person be allowed to have a gun to deter that other person from attacking them.

Nuclear weapons are the ultimate weapon. If you have one, you could threaten a country with destruction if they don't follow your wishes, knowing that they can't threaten you with destruction.

Would the USA be as powerful if other countries had nuclear weapons and there was a risk to the USA that it could be used against them.

Of course, if you use a nuclear weapon, you could get nuked back.

Completely agree with this being a Trump-specific problem. Guess he gets lots of benefits if Lockheed Martin shares go up!
and if the world is busy elsewhere while his ICE roams the democrat-majority cities in the IS causing utter chaos! It is working out well for him so far.

One more point that a lot of Israeli supporters miss is the geography of the region: Afghanistan, Russia, Pakistan and China will have a lot to lose if Iran gets nuked by Israel. In fact, countries like Pakistan and their economics centres are so physically close to Iran that they will definitely receive the impact of radiation and the consequent economic and human disasters. So Israel (I.e, Trump’s U.S.!) must really consider what is going to happen and who will side with Iran in this and why.

Hang on, are you saying that Iran ISN'T trying to manufacture nuclear weapons?

unlike the Israeli regime and the blood thirst they have demonstrated
Do you realise that you are bordering on antisemitism here?

I'm asking specifically because I'd like to know if you have considered the consequences of what you seem to be asking for.

If you want everyone to have this ability are you ok with the extremes holding the weapons?

The most relevant country I can think of rn is Iran, so is Iran developing a nuclear weapon what you think should be ok?

Are you calling ICC antisemitic? They have a warrant out on the Israeli regime.
also, France has just removed Israeli exhibitions from one of their largest weapons exhibition. Says a lot where the wind is thankfully blowing.