Weaknesses of nuclear nonproliferation regime
Daily Yomiuri On-Line: "Weaknesses of nuclear nonproliferation regime
Ramesh Thakur / Special to The Daily Yomiuri
Over the 35 years of its operation, the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty--alongside a host of auxiliary arrangements like the International Atomic Energy Agency's Additional Protocol and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty--has kept the world safe from rampant proliferation of nuclear weapons. The subject of the proliferation, detection and interdiction, use and deterrence, dismantlement and destruction of nuclear weapons is back on the international agenda with a vengeance.
The NPT is the centerpiece of the nonproliferation regime which codified the global antinuclear norm. The NPT has produced many real and enduring benefits. But it also suffers from major weaknesses like lack of universality, inadequate verification mechanisms, problems of implementation, and ineffectual enforcement.
Some of the NPT's weaknesses are not just intrinsic to it but were intentionally written into it. For example the wording of Articles 1 and 2 deliberately permits the five nuclear powers (N-5) to transfer nuclear weapons to other countries (Cold War allies at the time)--that is, engage in geographical proliferation--as long as control of the weapons remained in the hands of the N-5. This is why the North Atlantic Treaty Organization could have nuclear warheads and missiles based in Germany despite the latter being a nonnuclear party to the NPT. The subsequent popularity of regional nuclear weapon-free zones (in Latin America, the South Pacific, Southeast Asia and Africa) owed much to the desire to plug this loophole.
The desire to marry two incompatible goals--nonproliferation and then U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower's vision of 'atoms for peace'--produced the odd juxtaposition of promotion of nuclear energy but prohibition of nuclear weapons. In time this led to crises in North Korea and Iran. For nuclear energy for peaceful purposes can be pursued legitimately to the po"
Ramesh Thakur / Special to The Daily Yomiuri
Over the 35 years of its operation, the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty--alongside a host of auxiliary arrangements like the International Atomic Energy Agency's Additional Protocol and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty--has kept the world safe from rampant proliferation of nuclear weapons. The subject of the proliferation, detection and interdiction, use and deterrence, dismantlement and destruction of nuclear weapons is back on the international agenda with a vengeance.
The NPT is the centerpiece of the nonproliferation regime which codified the global antinuclear norm. The NPT has produced many real and enduring benefits. But it also suffers from major weaknesses like lack of universality, inadequate verification mechanisms, problems of implementation, and ineffectual enforcement.
Some of the NPT's weaknesses are not just intrinsic to it but were intentionally written into it. For example the wording of Articles 1 and 2 deliberately permits the five nuclear powers (N-5) to transfer nuclear weapons to other countries (Cold War allies at the time)--that is, engage in geographical proliferation--as long as control of the weapons remained in the hands of the N-5. This is why the North Atlantic Treaty Organization could have nuclear warheads and missiles based in Germany despite the latter being a nonnuclear party to the NPT. The subsequent popularity of regional nuclear weapon-free zones (in Latin America, the South Pacific, Southeast Asia and Africa) owed much to the desire to plug this loophole.
The desire to marry two incompatible goals--nonproliferation and then U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower's vision of 'atoms for peace'--produced the odd juxtaposition of promotion of nuclear energy but prohibition of nuclear weapons. In time this led to crises in North Korea and Iran. For nuclear energy for peaceful purposes can be pursued legitimately to the po"
posted by Greta Jane at Wednesday, May 11, 2005
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