• Background: 1970 treaty that identifies 5 nuclear states
• Debate: Nuke-free v. Nuke threat
• Recent Legislation: Pres Bush India Plan

Background

• The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NNPT) was ratified in 1970 by the U.K., the Soviet Union, the U.S., and 40 other states. Five states (France, China, Russia, the U.K and U.S.) are recognized by the Treaty as nuclear weapon states. The treaty is loosely divided into 3 pillars: non-proliferation, disarmament, and peaceful use of nuclear technology, conditions upon which the 5 nuclear states signed.
• Though entered into force in 1970, the Treaty addresses present dilemmas. India, Pakistan and Israel have declined to sign, the first two declared nuclear states and hated adversaries, the latter perpetually in the sights of the Muslim-majority states that border them. North Korea ratified the treaty in 1985 only to withdraw in 2003 and later in 2005 to declare it's possession of nuclear weapons. Similarly, Iran has, depending on the as of now unclear intention of their nuclear program, violated the conditions of the Treaty. As an international treaty, it will require a multi-lateral approach towards future enforcement of the NNPT.

Debate

• Opponents to the NNPT view it as a threat to the so-called 'Nuclear Deterrence'; that is, the school of thought that views the destructive capability of nuclear weapons as their central mechanism for resistance of their very use.
• Proponents view this treaty as a step towards a nuclear free world.

Recent Developments

• On July 26, 2007 President Bush outlined a plan with the nuclear state of India which would seal a civilian nuclear deal between the two nations. The news comes after more than a year of negotiations and approval by Congress. India, a self-proclaimed possessor of nuclear weapons, has refused to sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty will, through the deal, be able to buy and sell both commercial nuclear technology and fuel, but would require a cuttoff in US assistance if India again tests a nuclear weapon.