Reviewing the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty

Download or read book Reviewing the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty written by Henry Sokolski and published by CreateSpace. This book was released on 2015-03-05 with total page 454 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons is the cornerstone of the nonproliferation regime. It entered into force in 1970, and 190 states have subscribed. The treaty covers three mutually reinforcing pillars—disarmament, nonproliferation, and peaceful uses of nuclear energy—and is the basis for international cooperation on stopping the spread of nuclear weapons. The basic bargain at the core of the NPT is sound: Countries with nuclear weapons will move towards disarmament; countries without nuclear weapons will not acquire them; and all countries can access peaceful nuclear technology.The NPT Review ProcessThe Treaty allows for the Parties to gather every five years to review its operation. At the 1995 Review and Extension Conference, the Parties extended the Treaty indefinitely and formalized the practice of convening a Review Conference (RevCon) every five years, as well as holding Preparatory Committee meeting during each of the three years preceding a RevCon. The 2015 NPT RevCon will take place at the United Nations in New York from April 27-May 22. The U.S. looks forward to a constructive RevCon, and we pledge to work with others to reaffirm and strengthen the NPT as a critical element of our common security.