Why superpower are so interested in nonproliferation of WMD

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Why superpower are so interested in nonproliferation of Nuclear weapon, while the don't reducing their own stockpile it hypocrisy.

I beet if smaller countries have nuclear weapon of their own nuclear weapon, the "SuperPowers", would be reluctant of use their own ground troops on foreign soil.

For example Russia would certainly not melding in Ukraine, if Ukraine has it's own 1500 thermonuclear that they have in early 90's after dissolution of Soviet Union

I was wondering about that the other day: did they divide up the nukes between the former Soviet Republics when the USSR broke up (like some of the other Soviet assets like the navy)? Or did all the nukes go to the Russian Republic? I guess you just answered my question- the Russians got them all-even the nukes originally based in other republics like the Ukraine.

If a small to mid sized country starts to play around with a nuclear program- it has the opposite effect. It tends to INVITE the superpowers to attack you. Thats what happened with Iraq, and if Romney had been elected - we would be occupying Iran now for that reason.

But yes- if you become a solidly established nuclear power-with like 1500 warheads- the bullies probably would not bother you. And I suspect Putin might not be supporting insurgents in the Ukraine if the Ukraine still had its Soviet era nuclear warheads.

The problem with proliferation of WMD is that they would sooner or later end up in the hands of terrorists. Groups like Hamas would likely not hold back from detonating a small nuke in the centre of Israel where it would kill the most number of Jews. Similarly Al Quida or ISIS would undoubtedly detonate nukes in America or European cities. At the moment there is a reasonable balance in the world where the more responsible nations who hold nukes don't use them for fear of nuclear retaliation. Small unstable countries or terrorists aren't deterred by MAD (mutually assured destruction).

It also takes an enormous investment in security and early warning to avoid mishaps or theft. And even then the superpowers have had failures. Less developed forces are just that much less likely to properly control them.