Can the Non-Proliferation Treaty be saved?
The 2005 Review Conference of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) will meet May 2-27 at the United Nations at a time when the Treaty itself faces threats to its survival. With Korea having already announced withdrawal from the Treaty, the possibility that another nation may follow, and regressive changes in nuclear doctrine by some Nuclear Weapon States predominantly the United States, it is clear that the Treaty is vulnerable and in need of strengthening. (see: www.npt2005.org) The NPT is the cornerstone of both non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and nuclear disarmament. As interpreted by the World Court, the Treaty legally binds the Nuclear Weapon States (NWS) to achieve nuclear disarmament. In return, the non-NWS agree to forego nuclear weapons. In spite of the Treaty obligation to disarm, United States policy is to maintain an arsenal of some 10,000 nuclear warheads into the middle of this century. The Administration wants to build a new multi-billion-dollar facility to pr
Related Questions
- Which country alone in the Middle East has nuclear weapons? Which country in the Middle East refuses to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and bars international inspections?
- What is the purpose of the recent Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference?
- Can the Non-Proliferation Treaty be saved?
