NCJ Number
189497
Journal
Defense Monitor Volume: 29 Issue: 3 Dated: 2000 Pages: 1-4
Date Published
2000
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This document discusses the extension of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) of 1970.
Abstract
Five years ago the United States led a strong global effort to achieve indefinite extension of the NPT which was due to expire on its 25th anniversary in April 1995. The primary resistance came from nations, which complained about the failure of the five nuclear powers (China, France, Great Britain, Russia, and the United States) to satisfy their obligations, under Article VI of the Treaty. Article VI was written into the Treaty originally as an inducement to non-nuclear States to renounce their right to develop nuclear weapons even though the five nuclear powers were allowed to keep theirs. However, Article VI clearly committed the nations with weapons to genuine efforts leading to nuclear disarmament. In 1970 there were an estimated 39,700 nuclear weapons of all types in the arsenals of the five nuclear states. In 1995, despite the end of the Cold War, the totals stood at 43,200 weapons after 25 years of talking about reductions. The continuing threat of nuclear destruction produced criticism of the nuclear haves by the have-nots and active resistance to approval of the indefinite extension of the NPT. The United States, which used powerful leadership in 1995 to obtain indefinite extension of the NPT, had become an active threat to the entire non-proliferation regime. The most powerful evidence of this threat was the Presidential Decision Directive 60 (PPD 60) which directed retaining nuclear weapons as the cornerstone of American security for the foreseeable future. India decided to resume nuclear testing and weapons development in 1998. The cynical disavowal of the United States to its obligations under the NPT obviously enabled India, as well as Pakistan, to assert equal rights to develop nuclear weapons for national security. If the NPT is to remain effective, the United States must lead the way with positive measures to live up to the obligations under Article VI of the Treaty and to comply with the goal of nuclear disarmament leading to the total elimination of all nuclear weapons.