The Future Nuclear Powers You Should Be Worried About

Iran's and North Korea's nuclear programs -- not to mention the risk of loose nukes in Russia or Pakistan -- are worrying enough. But a number of other countries are looking to join the nuclear club, with terrifying potential consequences.

BY MORDCHAI SHUALY | OCTOBER 20, 2009

BURMA

HLA HLA HTAY/AFP/Getty Images

Status: Substantial evidence points toward Burmese collaboration with North Korea in the development of a secret nuclear reactor and plutonium extraction facility. The reactor could be operational as early as 2014.

Why you should worry: Suspicions of a nascent Burmese nuclear weapons program are widespread. In July, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton publicly worried about military cooperation between North Korea and Burma, saying, "It would be destabilizing for the region. It would pose a direct threat to Burma's neighbors." Clinton's worries are validated by the reports of two recent Burmese defectors, one a former business executive involved in Burma's nuclear contracts, and the other an officer in a secret nuclear battalion in the Burmese Army, whose roles in Burma's clandestine nuclear program were described in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Tensions have been rising between Burma and Bangladesh since 2008, with a border dispute and a buildup of military forces along the disputed area. The tension has risen palpably; in the past two weeks, in addition to heavy tanks and artillery, at least five Burmese and four Bangladeshi warships have faced off across the Bay of Bengal. With both countries looking to go nuclear, the prospect of this conflict exploding is only more worrying.

Plus, the Burmese junta has substantial internal instability to contend with. There are reports of a recent "clearance sale" of heroin by ethnic militias, who are rushing to sell off the drugs to finance enormous weapons purchases. The drugs are being sold at bargain-basement prices in preparation for a possible resumption of civil war. These ethnic groups have been fighting the government on and off for more than 60 years. The fighting has largely occurred in Burma's border areas, but a resumption of wide-scale violence also carries the threat of discouraging foreign investments in Burma's energy sector, further weakening and isolating an already dangerous regime.

 SUBJECTS:
 

Mordchai Shualy is an editorial researcher at Foreign Policy.

GRANT

7:36 PM ET

October 20, 2009

To think that the United

To think that the United States is accused of irresponsibly selling weapons across the world, at least when we do it we try not to put the planet at risk.

 

KATHLEENTAYLOR8

9:43 AM ET

October 21, 2009

What about Israel? Just

What about Israel? Just because the U.S. has a "special relationship" with that country does not mean it will not become a nuclear problem area.

 

FREETRADER

10:24 AM ET

October 21, 2009

Israel?

A nuclear problem area? How would that happen? I'm not a fan of everything Israel does, but I don't recall them ever threatening their neighbors with a nuclear strike, something all the other little tyrants do on a regular basis.

 

ALAM

12:23 PM ET

October 21, 2009

Israel, Unfortunately Yes

well threating to attack iranian nuclear installations(which i might add are all for civilian purposes thus far) does constute to a nuclear attack because of the radiation fallout and devastation etc etc. (threats)

Along with the fact that its one of 3 countries (india/Israel/pakistan) that have nuclear weapons and continue to develop more nuclear weapons i would say it deserves to be in the list.

Its also worth mentioning that two of these countries (India/Israel) are recieving help from the US to actually further enhance and develop nuclear technology even though they are not part of the NPT Treaty...so a little wierd that we are worrying about countries that are trying to develop nuclear energy within the international framework(mechanism to check and monitor countries intentions) and forgeting other countries that are consistently threatening there neighbourhood with surgical strikes (on nuclear powerstations etc) or because of religion/ethnicity (India/pakistan constant banter of MAD).