What Does National Missile Defense Mean to the Non-Proliferation Treaty?
A fact sheet prepared by the World Policy Institute Each of the Parties to the Treaty undertakes 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. (Article VI of the Non-Proliferation Treaty) – July 1, 1968 As world leaders gather for the 2000 Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference at the United Nations (April 24 – May 19), the United States is on the verge of deploying a National Missile Defense (NMD) system. Far from providing a reliable defense, the proposed NMD will endanger existing arms control initiatives and spark a new nuclear arms race. NMD will violate the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, and also runs counter to the stated goals of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. NMD, coupled with the failure of the U.S. Senate to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty last fall, are
