What is the non-proliferation treaty (NPT)?

Facts about the Non-Proliferation Treaty

The treaty entered into force in March 1970 in order to restrain the spread of nuclear weapons. The 188 states that have ratified the treaty fall under one of two categories:

a)    Nuclear Weapon States (NWS): which includes the United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom. They are required to commit to general and complete disarmament.

b)      Non-Nuclear Weapon States (NNWS): according to the treaty, all other states are required to abandon the pursuit of developing or acquiring nuclear weapons. However, they are allowed to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes under strict regulations.  

The three countries that have not signed onto the treaty are India, Pakistan and Israel.

India and Pakistan: India first tested an explosive nuclear device in 1974. The two countries then conducted “tit-for-tat” nuclear tests in May 1998. 

Israel: Israel has not publicly conducted a nuclear test but has never admitted or denied possessing nuclear weapons. However, it is believed that Israel does posses nuclear weapons based on how much fissile material (highly enriched uranium and plutonium) the country is known to have produced. Fissile material is an essential component in order to create nuclear weapons.

North Korea and Iran are under immediate proliferation scrutiny.  

North Korea:  North Korea withdrew from the treaty on January 10, 2003. There is no definite legal opinion whether the country is party to the NPT because it is debated whether North Korea provided the amount of time required to withdraw from the treaty.   

Iran: Iran has recently resumed development of its uranium enrichment program, presumably for its civilian nuclear energy program. Accused of reactivating this program to covertly develop an independent nuclear weapons program, Iran remains under continuing investigation by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN organization in charge of ensuring that states do not build nuclear weapons illegally.

Status of US Membership: Ratified March 5, 1970

Key Terms: NPT recognizes two categories of member states Non-Nuclear Weapon States, which are prohibited from acquiring, manufacturing or transferring nuclear weapons, are defined under Articles I and II. Nuclear Weapon States, which agree to "pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control," are defined under Article VI.

Status of US Compliance: Current US policy does not comply with its disarmament obligations. According to the 2002 Nuclear Posture Review, the US plans for maintenance of large and modernized nuclear forces for the indefinite future and for expansion of options for the use of nuclear weapons.

The Review Conference

Since 1970, the countries who are party to the treaty have met every five years to oversee its implementation. The seventh review conference has been scheduled in New York from May 2-27. This meeting presents members with the toughest nonproliferation and disarmament challenges the NPT has ever faced. It also presents an opportunity for the international community to work together and collectively respond to proliferation threats by promoting universal adherence to the NPT, preventing further withdrawals, and ensuring treaty compliance.

Citizens for Global Solutions would like to credit the Arms Control Association for much of this information.

Official Website - Contains treaty text status.

Federation of American Scientists on NPT - Comprehensive source of information on NPT, including texts, documents and news.

U.S. Department of State on the NPT

+ READ MORE ABOUT THE NPT REVIEW CONFERENCE
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Updated March 17, 2006