Four Nuclear Powers

The **Four Nuclear Powers** (**FNP**), alternatively known as the **Four Protecting States** (**FPS**) are defined by the International Union with its Treaty on Preventing Nuclear Expansion (TPNE). They are Alsesia, Finst, Ibanmor, and Yansem.

Since the TPNE came into force in 1960, no IU member state outside of the four powers has been allowed to develop and/or produce nuclear weapons. Nations that have attempted to circumvent or ignore these regulations, such as Aritas, have been subject to sanctions or even military action. However, since the TPNE does not restrict nuclear power generation and reprocessing, many states are considered **nuclear-latent** by scholars, possessing the means to quickly develop a nuclear weapon if the need or possibility arose.

## History

The first nuclear weapons were jointly developed by Alsesia, Ibanmor, and Yansem over the course of the First World War. The first to deploy them in combat was Yansem against Shail on July 4th, 1945, followed by Alsesia on August 2nd against Finst. Ibanmor did and has not used nuclear weapons in any capacity against an enemy.

With the end of the FWW, many nations developed an interest in acquiring nuclear weapons for themselves. With unresolved tensions and other conflicts igniting the Second World War, the IU was concerned with the possibility of nuclear escalation. Numerous states came very close to developing nuclear weapons during this time, and only military defeat or significant pressure resulted in them not successfully completing their programs. However, Finst managed to successfully test a nuclear device, and due to its position as one of the victorious powers, it was permitted to maintain its arsenal.

After the SWW ended in 1958, the IU welcomed several new member states, allowing the organization to draft and implement the TPNE across the global community. With this, all nuclear weapons programs outside of the FNP were dismantled under international observation.

## Nuclear Latency

Nuclear latency is a state in which a country maintains the technology to quickly develop and manufacture nuclear weapons, without actually having done so. The TPNE does not prohibit maintaining nuclear infrastructure, and the development of a weapon is closely related to, but not equivalent to the technology for energy generation. Nuclear latency merely considers technological sophistication, and does not reflect a nation's desire to acquire nuclear weapons.

States which are considered nuclear-latent by the FNP are:

* Aritas (Attempted to build nuclear weapons against the TPNE)
* Dekam (Covered by Alsesia's nuclear umbrella)
* Dovencor (Attempted to build nuclear weapons against the TPNE)
* Dreznot (Covered by Yansem's nuclear umbrella)
* Erbitar (Covered by Alsesia's nuclear umbrella)
* Granish Federation (Covered by Alsesia and Ibanmor's nuclear umbrella)
* Greturno (Covered by Ibanmor's nuclear umbrella)
* Horhem (Covered by Alsesia's nuclear umbrella)
* Ilvis (Attempted to build nuclear weapons against the TPNE)
* Kylan (Covered by Alsesia's nuclear umbrella)
* Macaper (Covered by Finst's nuclear umbrella)
* Magrick (Covered by Alsesia's nuclear umbrella)
* South Aszania (Covered by Alsesia's nuclear umbrella)
* Yorchest (Covered by Alsesia's nuclear umbrella)
* Zalimik (Covered by Yansem's nuclear umbrella)