@CoffeeAndKeyboards Back to your original question... There are so many different variables that would have to be considered in your scenario. Does your country have financial, industrial, or natural resources in a quantity that would make a neighbor want to annex/subjugate it? Is it strategically located? Is there a history of conflict between you and the nations you are concerned about? I don't believe any of the current nuclear powers would use them simply because they "do not like" the leadership/people of another country. I think having the weapons available would make you a likely target of a first strike. Personally, I believe that every country that owns nuclear ICBMs has them aimed at multiple countries, according to the threat they feel from that country and the area that would need to be covered. Once those started to fly, I think all would be launched (in cycles to create the greatest damage) and those with better defense systems would hope that some survive. The use of a smaller payload tactical missile or "dirty bomb" MAY keep the retaliation at that smaller scale, but I doubt it. I know the Soviet doctrine included them while I was in army intelligence in the 80s. If you are concerned with one of the nuclear 'super powers', creating a small arsenal of them yourself would only ensure that your nation was one of the first ones annihilated. I just feel that 'most' nations would be less likely to use them against a nation that does not have them. Now, if you are worried about a neighbor that has a lunatic in charge of those weapons, having your own wouldn't probably deter him/her. Instead it would likely provoke them. There are enough of those weapons in the world, your best bet would be working on a relationship that would put you in a position to have a common defense treaty with a nation willing to cover you under their nuclear umbrella. You still may get annihilated if there is a world-wide nuclear holocaust, but more than likely it would be the fallout that would get you, instead of direct hits. Just an additional thought on the matter, I think the biggest danger is if a single power manages to create either a way to disable their opponents missiles across the board, or creates a defense system that has at least a 80-90% reliability. If that happens, they may feel secure in lighting them up. That's one person's opinion you asked for. That's as general as I could make it without getting into any specific political situations.