Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation

Non-Proliferation

START Resource Center

Click here to read "Strengthening U.S. Security Through Non-Proliferation and Arms Control: Recommendations for the Obama Administration"

2009-2010 College Debate Topic on Nuclear Weapons: A Guide to Background Materials, Publications, & Organizations

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.

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.

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"

REPROCESSING RESOURCES

Oct 30, 2009 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

ARTICLES & FACT SHEETS

Jan 27, 2010 Turning the Doomsday Clock

Dec 9, 2009 Fact Sheet: 2010 Global Nuclear Security Summit

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

Apr 16, 2009 A Strategy for Achieving Senate Approval of the CTBT

Mar 23, 2009 Corral That Bomb Testing (C.T.B.T.): Politics, Messaging, Verification, Cheaters

Sep 19, 2008 U.S.-Indian Nuclear Cooperation Agreement: A Bad Deal

Jul 3, 2008 Governmental Reorganization to Strengthen Arms Control and Nonproliferation

Apr 15, 2008 Potential U.S. Ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) Fact Sheet

Apr 15, 2008 Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) Fact Sheet

Mar 19, 2008 10 Reasons to Support a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)

ADDITIONAL READING