[1] Japan is considered a "paranuclear" state, with complete technical prowess to develop a nuclear weapon quickly,[2][3] and is sometimes called being "one screwdriver's turn" from the bomb, as it is considered to have the materials and technical capacity to make a nuclear weapon at will.
[17][18][19] Other notable nuclear threshold states are Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and Brazil.
[23] While states engaging in nuclear hedging do not directly violate the NPT, they do run the risk of potentially encouraging their neighboring states, particularly those they have had conflicts with, to do the same, spawning a "virtual" arms race to ensure the potential of future nuclear capability.
[23] Such a situation could rapidly escalate into an actual arms race, drastically raising tensions in the region and increasing the risk of a potential nuclear exchange.
[28][29] Nuclear latency does not presume any particular intentions on the part of a state recognized as being nuclear-latent.