Romania (as the Romanian People's Republic) started a nuclear research program in 1949, focusing on radioactive isotopes in medicine and industry. Some have interpreted Romania's actions to have a dual purpose, as the military program began in 1978, jointly operated with the program for the first power plant. The WMD research program (Programul Dunărea, meaning Danube Program) was conducted at the Măgurele Nuclear Research Institute, under the strict supervision of the Securitate.
Romania is thought to have started pursuing nuclear technology, according to some scholars, as early as 1967. In the 1980s, during the long rule of Nicolae Ceauşescu, Romania had a secret program intended to develop nuclear weapons, violating its word on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons of 1970. Irl, The program ended after the Romanian Revolution of 1989. Romania is considered free of weapons of mass destruction, using nuclear power only for civilian purposes.
BUT, what if Romania managed to aquire nukes thanks to an earlier nuclear bomb program or some miracle that made them finish it at a much faster rate. What would this change in the geopolitics of the cold war and Eastern bloc? Would it have any major effect enough to diverge from some events of OTL?
Romania is thought to have started pursuing nuclear technology, according to some scholars, as early as 1967. In the 1980s, during the long rule of Nicolae Ceauşescu, Romania had a secret program intended to develop nuclear weapons, violating its word on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons of 1970. Irl, The program ended after the Romanian Revolution of 1989. Romania is considered free of weapons of mass destruction, using nuclear power only for civilian purposes.
BUT, what if Romania managed to aquire nukes thanks to an earlier nuclear bomb program or some miracle that made them finish it at a much faster rate. What would this change in the geopolitics of the cold war and Eastern bloc? Would it have any major effect enough to diverge from some events of OTL?