Nuclear Proliferation

What is Nuclear Proliferation?

Nuclear proliferation is the spread of nuclear weapons, nuclear technology, fissionable material and nuclear weapons-making information to the countries that do not possess these.

The nuclear non-proliferation treaty has recognised the countries that have nuclear weapons as “Nuclear Weapon States (NWS)” and those that do not possess nuclear weapons as “Non-Nuclear Weapon States (NNWS)”. Hence, nuclear proliferation takes place when the NWS pass their nuclear weapons and technology to the NNWS.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Nuclear Proliferation makes the information on nuclear weapons, technology and material available to Non-Nuclear Weapons States.
• The Non-Proliferation Treaty that came into force in March 1970 is legally binding.
• There are 190 Non-Nuclear Weapon States and 5 Nuclear Weapon States; US, Russia, UK, China and France.
• In 1993 North Korea became the only State to withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Photo by Mathias Reding on Unsplash

What is the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty?

The Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is a legally binding international treaty signed on 1st July 1968 and came into force in March 1970.