February 22, 2026
Is a world without nuclear weapons a realistic prospect?
Management Sciences

Is a world without nuclear weapons a realistic prospect?

Feb 22, 2026

Is it possible to live in a world free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction? According to the study, the following question arises: To put it another way, you want to identify future weapons of mass destruction (WMD), as well as the reasons why and to what degree they would be used. It is possible that you will be recruited to do so. This was done because the institution was fully aware of the limitations of any attempt to foretell the future, particularly over the next five years, and because of this, we avoided making such forecasts.

One of our goals was to use the results of this long-term examination of the potential implications of WMD to assist the United States government in developing short-term policies and investments in the fight against WMD that would have long-term consequences if implemented. Whether or not WMD participates in the war on terror will be determined by a variety of political, military, economic, and social reasons, according to our assessment. Aside from that acknowledgement, we recognise that the policies and measures implemented by the United States government will have a substantial impact on the security environment, including in particular the spread of nuclear weapons.

These characteristics allow us to create a more comprehensive representation of the future security environment while avoiding the identification of specific external players or events. We are concentrating on development that has the potential to cause severe problems in order to be more alert. We believe it is logical and practical to expect that China’s continuous ascent as a major power will only increase expenses and dangers in the United States associated with sustaining its current global position and security activities. Instead of trying to control the future, it is better to plan for it, which raises the possibility that U.S.

Foreign security interests will be secured without a court of law. Rather than deterring leaders from taking long-term actions to defend their country’s authority, understanding that some threats pose a threat may motivate them to do so, such as improving the economy and maintaining debt control. Forecasting the future of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) is far more difficult than forecasting the future in general. In the absence of WMD, weaknesses in countries’ skills and aims have made predicting why and how countries will use WMD and how they will use it more difficult, due to a lack of accurate information about the countries’ capabilities.

Read More: Foreign Policy Analysis of Japan

Is a World without Nuclear Weapons a Realistic Prospect?

An editorial board that included Wall Street Journal editors Henry Kissinger, George Schultz, William Parry, and Sam Nunn questioned whether nuclear weapons had made the world a more secure place as a result of the mutually assured destruction idea, which was first proposed in the 1950s (MAD). Because nuclear weapons would result in quick retaliation, the MAD considered the employment of nuclear weapons by any organization ludicrous. Up to this point, adherents of this philosophy have warned us all that we are on the approach of a nuclear apocalypse and that we must take immediate action to prevent this from happening.

To deal with scenarios in which nuclear weapons are not present, governments must take steps such as “raising awareness and reducing the risk of accidental or unauthorized use of nuclear weapons” or “halting the development of explosives throughout the world”, among other things. They also urged for a halt to the manufacture of plutonium for nuclear bombs, which is already underway. In order to achieve their goal, the authors have already called for “a larger effort by the leaders of nuclear-armed states to turn the goal of a nuclear-free world into a collaborative enterprise”, even before detailing the means they intend to use.

Recent years have seen significant progress made by the international community in terms of lowering and ultimately eradicating global nuclear proliferation, which is a beneficial development. Despite the fact that President Bush and Russian President Putin announced the Global Initiative to Combat Terrorism in 2006, which re-energized both countries’ efforts to combat nuclear terrorism, the Moscow Treaty of 2002 reduced nuclear weapons assets of the Russian and American nuclear powers by only 20% of their total assets.

They were in the throes of the Cold War at the time. In 2006, President Bush and Russian President Putin unveiled the Global Initiative to Combat Terrorism, which restructured the two countries’ efforts to combat nuclear terrorism and other forms of terrorism. The implementation of all of these measures appears to be critical milestones in the process of bringing a world free of nuclear weapons into reality.

Therefore, any advancement in the nuclear weapons race will be in vain as long as modern nuclear power is unable to restore the MAD idea that existed between the United States and Soviet Union during World War II. Based on what has been demonstrated, cultural approaches to non-proliferation, such as the START treaties signed by Obama and Medvedev in 2009, will not be sufficient to lessen the threat of nuclear proliferation or to bring about a world free of nuclear weapons. As examples of how this can be accomplished, look no farther than North Korea’s nuclear weapons test and Iran’s flagrant disregard for international norms and sanctions for refusing to halt plutonium enrichment.

As long as nuclear weapons are in existence, they will never be entirely destroyed since there will be no way to secure their total removal in the future. We will never be able to put off the invention of the nuclear bomb, as Michael O’Hanlon has stated. There are still nuclear power plants and wastes around the world, but even for people who have a thorough understanding of nuclear science, the possibility of developing sustainable nuclear weapons is out of reach.

If a nuclear-armed state had the capability to threaten or attack another nuclear-armed state, the idea of Mutually Assured Destruction would make perfect sense. If a nuclear arms race occurs, any competent participant will have procedures in place for instantaneous redeployment in a situation of nuclear disarmament in order to avoid being captured by the other participants. In the absence of a restriction, the New York Times writes, “the first recruits might have a motivation to launch an early nuclear strike”. Nuclear weapons will never be entirely eradicated; therefore, the absence of nuclear weapons will only enhance the likelihood of future nuclear assaults.

Focus on terrorism

With the recent focus on terrorism, violent extremism, religion, and political upheaval, there has been an increase in fears regarding nuclear-weapons-capable terrorist organisations. Though these corporations do not come into the list of legitimate governments that have signed the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, they have a legitimate interest in obtaining nuclear weapons.

A number of commentators have expressed concern that relinquishing nuclear weapons may be dangerous because we would not have the essential preventive measures in place to avoid terrorist attacks. “What happens when a terrorist country is widely suspected of having an efficient nuclear weapons programme, yet verification fails to resolve the issue?” asks O’Hanlon of the dilemma that must be overcome. In 2010, there were three of them. Terrorists and corrupt regimes may consider it justifiable to launch an attack if other countries do not have the option of deploying a blockade, resulting in a one-sided disaster for all parties concerned.

Some people responded by claiming that nuclear weapons and blockade were pointless in the face of an enemy who lacked power, that is, the ability to discourage or protect itself against nuclear bombs and blockade because we did not have boundaries. In the event of a nuclear holocaust, many countries throughout the world will be unable to defend themselves, which implies that their governments will be unable to prevent nuclear terrorism or even provide for their own people.

It is possible that terrorists would be able to acquire nuclear weapons, which will render the state-centric paradigm of deterrence ineffective in the face of sophisticated international terrorist assaults. There is a significant gap between the behaviour of terrorist organisations and that of the private sector. These individuals’ views and interests are diametrically opposed to those of present leaders in nuclear-armed regions, mostly as a result of the fact that they lack the resources to defend themselves, as well as the people and the courts to which they are answerable.

Corrupt governments may be unconcerned with MAD and animal theory because they will employ their newly acquired weapons of terror and violence to achieve their objectives. This is accomplished by accusing the present nuclear power of teaching two values by refusing to allow other countries to possess nuclear weapons, as is the case in the United States. These nasty provinces use this as an excuse to justify their own conduct. Moreover, if free democracies give up their nuclear weapons, it is possible that other countries may join up with terrorist organisations or corrupt governments, and they will be able to obtain the necessary information and funds to develop their own nuclear weapons programmes.

Although it is possible that non-state corporations will be able to acquire nuclear weapons in theory, this is not a likely outcome in the current scenario. Provinces will be compelled to enhance their weapons surveillance and security activities if this occurs, due to the enormous number of potential consequences. The implementation of national defence strategy by nations will be required in order to diminish their reliance on nuclear weapons, as well as the motivation to purchase nuclear weapons from other countries.

The purchase and deployment of nuclear weapons by previously existent regions, according to Jenkins, should be discouraged in order to minimise the perceived power and prestige associated with such acquisitions. Non-state actors and terrorist organisations will continue to seek nuclear weapons, and the resistance will not be successful in their efforts or discriminate against them in any way. According to this point of view, the Big Five nuclear weapons are “extensions, not obstacles” to the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

A Nuclear-Weapons-Free World: Is It Achievable?

The worst is behind us, and the biggest is near for those who support nuclear disarmament. Those who work to develop nuclear weapons may eventually have a glimmer of hope, though cautious. A world without nuclear weapons would take time and effort, but those charged with leading the charge appear to be committed to doing so. That is a good indication.

The world remained without nuclear weapons for 64 years, but with the development of more than 140,000 weapons, there seems to have been a dramatic change in some lands. They are no longer considered the best way to ensure national security and security. The world, with its emphasis on issues such as extreme poverty, climate change, global economic and financial crises, and the emerging risks such as the recent outbreak of the H5N1 flu epidemic, have prevented further destruction and destruction.

Concerns about the proliferation of nuclear weapons among nations and even non-governmental organizations, such as terrorist organizations, seem to be a major factor in the war effort to eradicate them. That is the essence of the story.

Nuclear weapons, by their nature, are an unprecedented threat to humanity. Weapons of disarmament must begin with the realization that nuclear weapons do not enhance national security but endanger the very existence of all nations.

By furthering fears about their vulnerability to unauthorized access, the case for their termination is distorted. These weapons of mass destruction should be banned because of their poor quality and, moreover, illegal. They are not even weapons of war, as their use can be catastrophic for anyone involved.

Nuclear weapons and nuclear power have been on the UN agenda since its inception at the very beginning of the atomic era. It was adopted at a San Francisco convention three weeks before the nuclear test and six weeks before the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear tests, and as a result, the UN Charter had no reference to nuclear weapons. The United Nations inauguration session was fueled by the extreme state of nuclear atom. When the Council met for the first time in 1946, members of the Security Council and Canada were asked to establish an Atomic Energy Commission which would make recommendations to ensure the peaceful use of nuclear power, eliminate atomic weapons and other nuclear weapons, establish a deterrent system, and establish a defense system. which includes testing, to prevent breach.

In June 1946, the United States introduced a proposal, which was soon followed by a series of special offers. The United States, as a nuclear power plant, had to set its own standards in this regard. The United States government released the International Atomic Energy Agency’s March Report, which served as the basis for the so-called Baruch Plan.

As the US retained its uncontested nuclear power, it called for the free trade of basic scientific knowledge for peaceful purposes among all nations  to control the atomic force to the required degree; the elimination of atomic weapons and all other major destructive weapons in the nation’s archives; and the establishment of effective protections through inspections and other measures to prevent compliance with applicable laws.

Administration in Washington

Changes in foreign relations are being implemented by the Trump administration. Former Senator Barack Obama called for a world free of nuclear weapons during his presidential campaign last year, emphasising that achieving this goal would not necessitate unilateral disarmament but rather a continued commitment under the NPT to a long-term path toward their eradication. 5 Obama’s fundamental commitment to eliminating nuclear weapons was reaffirmed when he took office in 2009. That was a fundamental principle of the 1946 resolution of the General Assembly. On April 5, 2009, President Obama spoke in Prague about the way to a world free of nuclear weapons. 6 “The existence of thousands of nuclear weapons is the most deadly Cold War legacy,” he began by saying. He went on to say:

“Even though the Cold War is gone, the tens of thousands of weapons that were utilised throughout the conflict continue to exist. Even while the likelihood of a global nuclear war has dropped, the likelihood of a single nuclear attack has grown. In recent years, an increasing number of countries have purchased these weapons. The testing has not come to a halt. There are black marketplaces for nuclear secrets and materials that operate on the black market. The technology for building bombs has spread. Terrorists prefer to use bombs as weapons of choice. By continuing to ignore the norms, we run the risk of losing our grasp on the global non-proliferation regime, which has been the focal point of our efforts to mitigate these dangers for the past two decades”.

As he acknowledged that reaching the goal of nuclear disarmament would be challenging, he went on to outline the steps that the United States was prepared to take to achieve it:

  • Nuclear weapons’ effect on national security planning should be reduced.
  • It is expected that a new START pact with Russia will be negotiated this year, to reduce nuclear weapons and stocks.
  • Enact the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CTBT).
  • Finalising a convention that can be independently confirmed to put a halt to nuclear weapons-related manufacture of fissile materials.
  • Strengthen the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty as a platform for international collaboration in nuclear energy’s peaceful applications.
  • Preventing nuclear weapons from falling into the hands of terrorists.

Encourage a reinvigorated international effort to secure any nuclear material that is susceptible to contamination over the next four years.

Nuclear weapons should be abolished, as proposed by President Obama, is a brave move. Regardless of what happens, he has at the very least brought attention to the topic of nuclear disarmament among international leaders. There will be a long debate and arduous negotiations, but the United States has demonstrated a willingness to take the initiative and, more significantly, to set a positive precedent. The START plan is an excellent illustration of this.

In this first step, the Russian Federation appears to be willing to cooperate, which is a fortunate development. Before calling on other countries to reduce their nuclear arsenals, Russia and the United States must first reduce their own. Other nuclear-armed countries, on the other hand, are almost certain to put up a lot of resistance. It will be necessary, however, for the United States to take a leading role in the re-evaluation of its nuclear strategy. As a result of significant policy adjustments, the nuclear posture of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization might change significantly. Atomic-weapon states and their allies must reconsider their existing approach to nuclear weapons if they are to avoid nuclear catastrophe.

WMD-Relevant Technological Trends

With regard to CBRN weapons, as well as the potential for additional WMDs outside CBRN, the future of those weapons was reviewed by specialists in 2030. We discovered a number of valuable lessons across both areas. Future technology and proliferation advances are expected to reduce the barriers to clandestine nuclear weapons development and more advanced nuclear weapons development by 2030.

Weaponization technologies that were once considered cutting-edge have become commonplace in a wide variety of commercial items. Because of these advancements, new and aspiring nuclear weapons nations will be able to produce larger-yield bombs in smaller, more transportable, and more concealable packages. It’s unlikely that any non-state actor would have as many resources or capabilities as a state in the same situation.

The major hurdle to the development of nuclear weapons will continue to be the acquisition of fissile material. This defence mechanism has been bolstered by the international community’s efforts to secure nuclear materials from nonstate actors, in particular. Most efforts to prevent fissile material from being created have failed to this point. State actors may be able to enrich uranium more quickly, cheaply, and surreptitiously as a result of technological advancements, particularly in the domain of lasers.

Laser isotopic separation (LIS) has long been regarded to be a more demanding and expensive method of enriching uranium to the requisite level, despite the large facility size and long run durations required by today’s gas centrifuge technology. Laser and other technology improvements may make it easier for nuclear power users to enrich uranium to weapons-grade levels using one or more novel methods to LIS. 46 Nuclear weapons development programmes could grow more difficult to identify and interrupt in the future if this trend continues. Additionally, technological and economic improvements may lead to the synthesis or extraction of non-U235 and non-Pu239 fissile materials and their use in nuclear weapons.

Conclusion

Furthermore, technological improvements are projected to lessen the barriers to the production of current and future types of WMD, hence making such weapons more accessible to a greater number of state and non-state actors in the years to come. In particular, these advancements have an impact on chemical and biological weapons, although they are also relevant to nuclear weapons to a certain extent. Although nuclear proliferation will continue to be hindered by the availability of fissile material, the technology and equipment required to design and construct a nuclear bomb are becoming increasingly accessible.

In addition, technological breakthroughs in the near future are likely to make it possible to manufacture WMD in ways that do not rely on the traditional signatures noticed by national intelligence agencies and international nonproliferation observers. This would result in fewer possibilities for the international community to detect and respond to proliferation initiatives before they achieve maturity. 85 Nonproliferation regimes, as well as the monitoring and verification procedures that underpin them, will find it difficult to keep up with technological breakthroughs, whether at the national or international level. It is possible to identify proliferation; but, existing nonproliferation procedures may be of limited value if this is the case.

The Socialist Group in the European Parliament organized the event “A Nuclear-Weapon-Free World”, which took place at a convenient moment. To combat the threat of nuclear proliferation, it is now more vital than ever to design a comprehensive strategy that incorporates all relevant elements. While there has been and may continue to be widespread fear that dangerous nuclear materials may be transferred to areas of the world where they will not be effectively monitored, progress in strengthening the procedures that are intended to maintain nuclear safety has been modest. One source of hope is that signs of a new global accord on how the international community should respond to nuclear proliferation are beginning to appear.