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Non-Proliferation

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Nuclear testing.
Atomic bomb explosion in the Marshall Islands. National Archives.

RECENT ANALYSIS

  • Jan 11, 2012
    UNSCR 1540 & the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit: A View From Seoul
    The Republic of Korea (ROK) has been and remains a staunch supporter of the global nonproliferation regime as it borders a grave security threat and proliferator of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). With the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit just months away, the Republic of Korea should be more interested in enhancing UNSCR 1540, not only as the Summit Chair but against the backdrop of a “Global Korea” policy and the nation’s growing prominence in the nuclear energy industry.
  • Jan 6, 2012
    Where Nuclear Safety and Security Meet
    A Fukushima-like nuclear accident does not have to be caused by nature. Similar results could be wrought by a dedicated terrorist group that gained access to a nuclear power plant and disabled its safety systems. To guard against natural accidents, terrorist sabotage, and possible combinations of these two classes of events, nuclear plant operators and regulators should consider a combined approach called nuclear safety-security.
  • Dec 16, 2011
    Energy and Water Conference Agreement Protects Nuclear Material Security Programs, Begins to Reduce Bloated Nuclear Weapons Budget
    The final conference agreement on the FY 2012 Energy and Water bill keeps the goal to secure all vulnerable nuclear materials within four years on track and begins to responsibly scale back the nuclear weapons budget, writes Kingston Reif in this new analysis.
  • See more articles »

Kingston Reif

CENTER EXPERT

Kingston Reif

Director of Nuclear Non-Proliferation
202-546-0795 ext.2103
kreif AT armscontrolcenter DOT org

Duyeon Kim

Duyeon Kim

Deputy Director of Nuclear Non-Proliferation
202-546-0795
dkim AT armscontrolcenter DOT org

Non Proliferation Funding Resource Center

START Resource Center

Since entering into force in 1970, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as the NPT, has remained the cornerstone of the international nonproliferation regime. In creating a system of mutual responsibilities and an international taboo against the use or threat to use nuclear weapons, the NPT has proven largely successful in stemming proliferation.

But the nonproliferation regime faces new challenges: insufficient protections against the theft or sale of various nuclear materials in states of the former Soviet Union; nuclear black market activity such as the network operated by A.Q. Khan out of Pakistan; threats by North Korea to share nuclear technology with states or non-state actors hostile to the U.S.; and, most recently, violations of IAEA nuclear safeguard standards by Iran, a signatory of the NPT which is pursuing technology for producing nuclear materials as part of a possible quest for a nuclear bomb.

The threat of nuclear terrorism is producing additional challenges to the NPT regime, particularly in the areas of securing and safeguarding nuclear weapons material, as is a pending agreement between the U.S. and India to share peaceful nuclear technology. The U.S.-India deal challenges the legitimacy of the NPT because it would not require India to join the NPT or to undertake any of the disarmament commitments that the P-5 agreed to.

Many experts agree that some type of nonproliferation regime reform is necessary, particularly since certain states have interpreted the NPT as allowing them to acquire nuclear technologies that take them to the brink of acquiring an actual nuclear weapon without explicitly violating the treaty, sometimes referred to as a "breakout capability." Withdrawing from the NPT also carries no penalty, save possible ad hoc action taken by the U.N. Security Council.

Jun 1, 2011 John Isaacs: Nuclear Arms Control Prospects

John Isaacs speaks at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs on the prospects for nuclear arms control over the next 18 months.

Unless nuclear proliferation challenges are effectively addressed and until nuclear weapon states achieve further progress on their disarmament commitments, the future strength of the NPT regime remains in question.

ARTICLES & FACT SHEETS

Jan 11, 2012 UNSCR 1540 & the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit

Jan 6, 2012 Where Nuclear Safety and Security Meet

Apr 11, 2011 Nuclear Security Summit 1 Year Anniversary

Dec 20, 2010 Letter to the President on nuclear cooperation agreements

Aug 17, 2010 Is a “Region by Region” Approach Really Effective in Preventing the Spread of Sensitive Nuclear Technology?

Jul 15, 2010 The Right Strikes Out on START

Jun 1, 2010 John Isaacs Speaks in Malaysia

May 20, 2010 GOP Critics vs. the Pentagon

Apr 27, 2010 New START and the Obama Nuclear Agenda

Apr 25, 2010 New START Crucial for U.S. Security

Apr 5, 2010 Response to Hendrik Hertzberg

Mar 15, 2010 India and the NPT (Strategic Analysis)

Jan 27, 2010 Turning the Doomsday Clock

Dec 9, 2009 Fact Sheet: 2010 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference

Nov 12, 2009 For Safety, Ban Nuclear Tests

Nov 2, 2009 How to Ratify the Test Ban Treaty

Jul 15, 2009 Factsheet on the Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT)

Jun 22, 2009 Factsheet on the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty

REPROCESSING RESOURCES

Dec 20, 2010 Letter to Congress on Laser Enrichment Facility in North Carolina

Oct 2, 2009 Letter to Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Laser Enrichment Facility in North Carolina

Oct 1, 2009 Fissile Materials Working Group: Policy Recommendations to President Obama

Oct 1, 2009 Fissile Materials Working Group: Cover Letter to President Obama

Aug 10, 2009 Policy Briefing on Nuclear Reprocessing: Is the U.S. Missing Out on the Nuclear Waste Solution?

Mar 20, 2009 The Global Nuclear Energy Partnership: Proliferation Concerns and Implications

Sep 2, 2008 Reprocessing: A Rapid Response Factsheet

Aug 19, 2008 The Future of the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP): Next Steps

Aug 15, 2008 The Future of the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP): Domestic Stakeholders

Aug 4, 2008 The Future of the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP): The International Partners

Apr 30, 2008 Nuclear Fuel Recycling: More Trouble Than It's Worth

RESOURCES - FULL TEXTS

May 28, 2010 2010 NPT Review Conference Final Document

May 15, 1997 IAEA Additional Protocol to safeguards agreements

May 12, 1995 1995 Resolution On the Middle EAst

Apr 22, 1970 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Mar 20, 2006 Nuclear Suppliers Group Guidelines

FY 2010 BUDGET ANALYSIS

Oct 21, 2009 Analysis of FY 2010 Defense Authorization Conference Agreement (HR 2647)

Jun 2, 2009 Obama Nuclear Nonproliferation Budget Disappointing

May 15, 2009 President Obama’s First Budget Shortchanges Nunn-Lugar

May 8, 2009 Analysis of the Fiscal Year 2010 Pentagon Spending Request: May "Full Request"

Feb 26, 2009 Fiscal Year 2010 Pentagon Defense Spending Request: February "Topline"

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