there's no reason that things need to unfold such that a nuclear armed state exists one day and then doesn't the next. It could easily evolve from regulatory c

there's no reason that things need to unfold such that a nuclear armed state exists one day and then doesn't the next. It could easily evolve from regulatory capture, increased influence of large corporations in governance, capture of public discourse by corporate sponsored narratives, and eventual de-facto private control of government. You'd end up with a nation with a nuclear force exists on paper but in fact the corporate interests were in control of that entity. In fact, of the preceding 5 conditions I would say 4 are already either done or in progress.