A Seattle Times October 15 editorial put it this way:

"Proliferation - It's estimated more than 40 nations now have weapons capability, largely a result of an expansion of nuclear-energy technology supported by the nominal nuclear powers and the watchdogs, raising fears of new arms races."

New York Times writers William J. Broad and David E. Sanger put it this way in their evaluation of what is happening right now, also on October 15:

"The spread of nuclear technology is expected to accelerate as nations redouble their reliance on atomic power.  That will give more countries the ability to make reactor fuel."