a9/ rhe united statcs, the sovict union, the united Kinfc:r.-:, rrancc an.r ch'na.{nc1ie ccnclucted a leaceful explosion in 19Tl+ d.encnstrating a caTebifitv toconstruct nucrear ve&pons. The Goverrurent of rndia rt"" "Epe"t.iiy "i"iea tn"trndia has no intention of conetructing nuclear weapons. rsrael and south Africahave denied unofficial reports that they have constructed nuclear weapons.Al 35 /392 Lnglish Annex Page i16 toalliancesystems,lrhichrelyonnuclearweaponsfortheirsecluityandvhich have nuclear weapons on their ioit ana train their troops in the deplo).l1ent and use of such *""p-orr", I,lith tine, the technical and economic obstacles to nuclear- weapon production are decreasing. It vill thus require a political vifl by the ,roar-.ro"1a"t weapon States to continue to abstain from these lleapcns ' At the same tirne, possession of nuclear weapons by a few States rqhich are nilitarily signiflcant gives currency to tle notion that $tates rrhich aspire to 6reat-Fover status need to acq-uire nuclear wearrons. 352, Preoccupation among the nuclear-lreapon States about vertical escalation cf their arsenaf has led to a situation in ;hich their capabilities of contributing to regional security have diminished. It is often argued in various lnternational forumsthatnuclearveaponsaretoday]-esscredibleevenforlilrited.seculity pr.lxposes. There are those vho observe that this situation is not totallir unrelated to the world'wide concern over horizontal nuclear proliferation' l!""f .* "."po"= *a "* 353. Tbe lrays in l'thich Governments define national security differ' The same can be said. about the refationship betveen national security and the role of nuclear veapons. The following sections wil} eonsider the super' Powers' other nuclear- weapon States, and non--nuclear'-1'eapon States, including those vith significant industxial and technological infrastructures' rhS_ "gt€LlSIg 35\. The two super"'Povers, the Soviet Union and the United States maintain the tlro largest nucl€ar"weapon arienals in the world' They also possess very large conventional armed forces and are strong econonic Fowers with a large population ' lar ge industrialized "";;"i;t, advanced-scient if ic and technological capability and significant natural resoui"t* ' FTom the point of view of their national security, however, each considers the main tbxeat to arise from the strategic nuclear-weapon systems of the other sulet--Poter ' It has been shovn in previous
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing international relations, specifically the issue of nuclear weapons and their impact on national security. The language used is formal and technical, suggesting a focus on policy and strategy rather than economic or social issues. The text also touches on the technical and economic aspects of nuclear weapon production, but these are secondary to the discussion of national security and international relations.

**Category**
Science and technology, International relations