Nuclear Proliferation

Extracted Attributes

• Linked to

  Proliferation of nuclear weapons delivery systems (e.g., ballistic missiles)

• Definition

  The spread of nuclear weapons, fissile material, and the technology to produce them, to countries not recognized as nuclear-weapon states by the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and, in a modern context, to non-state actors.

• NPT Criticism

  Discriminatory, recognizing pre-1968 testers as nuclear-weapon states while others must forgo them.

• Primary Concern

  Increased risk of nuclear warfare and destabilization of international relations.

• Key US Initiative

  Atoms for Peace program

• Alternative Perspective

  Controlled proliferation can decrease conflict through nuclear deterrence.

• Key International Agency

  International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

• First and Only Wartime Use

  United States against Japan (1945)

• States with Nuclear Latency

  Iran, Japan

• NPT Recognized Nuclear-Weapon States

  United States, Russia (formerly Soviet Union), United Kingdom, France, China

• States that Dismantled Nuclear Programs

  South Africa

• States with Nuclear Weapons (Non-NPT Members)

  Israel, India, Pakistan, North Korea

• Initial Nuclear Weapon Developers (WWII - Joint)

  United States, United Kingdom, Canada

• States that Pursued Nuclear Programs (Unsuccessful)

  Yugoslavia, South Korea, Libya, Brazil, Iraq, Syria

• Initial Nuclear Weapon Researchers (WWII - Separate)

  Germany, Japan, Soviet Union, France

Timeline

• Initial research into nuclear weapons began during World War II by the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Japan, the Soviet Union, and France. (Source: Summary)

  1939-09-01

• The United States used nuclear weapons in war against Japan. (Source: Summary)

  1945-08

• The Soviet Union conducted its first nuclear test, initiating a nuclear arms race with the US. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1949

• U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower launched the Atoms for Peace program to provide nonmilitary nuclear technology to countries renouncing nuclear weapons. (Source: Britannica)

  1953

• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was created, stemming from the Atoms for Peace program, to promote safe and peaceful nuclear technology use. (Source: Britannica)

  1957

• The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) was signed by the United States, Soviet Union, and United Kingdom, agreeing to pursue general disarmament. (Source: CFR)

  1968-07-01

• China and France joined the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). (Source: CFR)

  1992

• The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) was signed, aiming to prevent nuclear proliferation and testing. (Source: UNODA)

  1996

• North Korea announced its withdrawal from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). (Source: Arms Control)

  2003-01

• The Israel-Iran conflict highlighted ongoing concerns about nuclear proliferation, particularly regarding Iran's nuclear sites. (Source: Related Documents)

  Recent

Nuclear proliferation

Nuclear proliferation is the spread of nuclear weapons to additional countries, particularly those not recognized as nuclear-weapon states by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as the Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT. Nuclear proliferation occurs through the spread of fissile material, and the technology and capabilities needed to produce it and to design and manufacture nuclear weapons. In a modern context, it also includes the spread of nuclear weapons to non-state actors. Proliferation has been opposed by many nations with and without nuclear weapons, as governments fear that more countries with nuclear weapons will increase the possibility of nuclear warfare (including the so-called countervalue targeting of civilians), de-stabilize international relations, or infringe upon the principle of state sovereignty. Conversely, supporters of deterrence theory argue that controlled proliferation decreases conflict rates via nuclear peace. Nuclear weapons were initially researched during World War II, jointly by the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, and separately by Germany, Japan, the Soviet Union, and France. The United States was the first and is the only country to have used a nuclear weapon in war, when it used two bombs against Japan in August 1945. After surrendering, Germany and Japan ceased to be involved in any nuclear weapon research. A nuclear arms race followed, with further countries developing and testing nuclear weapons. The US primarily competed with the Soviet Union, which carried out their first test in 1949. Seven other countries developed nuclear weapons during the Cold War. The UK and France, both NATO members, developed fission and fusion weapons throughout the 1950s, and 1960s, respectively. China developed both against the backdrop of the Sino-Soviet split. Five countries besides the five recognized Nuclear Weapon States have acquired, or are presumed to have acquired, nuclear weapons: Israel, South Africa, India, Pakistan, and North Korea. While South Africa dismantled its program and acceded, the other four states are not members of the NPT. One critique of the NPT is that the treaty is discriminatory in the sense that only those countries that tested nuclear weapons before 1968 are recognized as nuclear weapon states while all other states are treated as non-nuclear-weapon states who can only join the treaty if they forswear nuclear weapons. Many other states pursued a nuclear weapons program without attaining weapons. These include Yugoslavia, South Korea, Libya, Brazil, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. Some states, such as modern Iran and Japan, are suggested to maintain nuclear latency, the capacity to rapidly develop nuclear weapons on demand. Proliferation is tied to the development of civilian nuclear power, as fuel reprocessing and uranium enrichment facilities have dual use for producing both civilian and weapons-grade fissile material. It is also tied to the proliferation of nuclear weapons delivery systems, especially ballistic missiles.

Web Search Results

• Nuclear proliferation | Military, Arms Control & International Security

  Encyclopedia Britannica Encyclopedia Britannica # nuclear proliferation Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. nuclear proliferation, the spread of nuclear weapons, nuclear weapons technology, or fissile material to countries that do not already possess them. The term is also used to refer to the possible acquisition of nuclear weapons by terrorist organizations or other armed groups. [...] Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, or Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), was concluded by the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, France, and China in 1968. The treaty required states with nuclear weapons to make nonmilitary nuclear technology available to other countries and to take steps toward their own nuclear disarmament. In exchange, states without nuclear weapons pledged not to transfer or obtain military nuclear technology and to submit to IAEA [...] Confronted with the growing prospect of nuclear proliferation, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower launched in 1953 his Atoms for Peace program, which eventually provided nonmilitary nuclear technology to countries that renounced nuclear weapons. In 1957 the Atoms for Peace program led to the creation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a United Nations organization promoting the safe and peaceful use of nuclear technology. In response to the growing threat of nuclear war, the

• Nuclear proliferation - Wikipedia

  Many other states pursued a nuclear weapons program without attaining weapons. These include Yugoslavia, South Korea, Libya, Brazil, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. Some states, such as modern Iran and Japan, are suggested to maintain nuclear latency, the capacity to rapidly develop nuclear weapons on demand. Proliferation is tied to the development of civilian nuclear power, as fuel reprocessing and uranium enrichment facilities have dual use for producing both civilian and weapons-grade fissile [...] means for weapons construction to develop rudimentary, but working, nuclear explosive devices are considered to be within the reach of industrialized nations. [...] The greatest risk from nuclear weapons proliferation comes from countries that have not joined the NPT and which have significant unsafeguarded nuclear activities; India, Pakistan, and Israel fall within this category. While safeguards apply to some of their activities, others remain beyond scrutiny.

• U.S.-Russia Nuclear Arms Control - Council on Foreign Relations

  The pursuit of nuclear weapons by more states leads to calls for an international framework to halt proliferation. Discussions on a treaty began at the United Nations in 1959. After multiple drafts, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States sign theTreaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)on July 1, 1968, agreeing to pursue general disarmament. China and France do not join until 1992. The nonnuclear signatories pledge to forgo the acquisition of nuclear weapons.

• Nuclear Weapons – UNODA

  A number of multilateral treaties have since been established with the aim of preventing nuclear proliferation and testing, while promoting progress in nuclear disarmament. These include the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests In The Atmosphere, In Outer Space And Under Water, also known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT), the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which was signed in 1996 but has yet to enter into force, [...] A number of bilateral and plurilateral treaties and arrangements seek to reduce or eliminate certain categories of nuclear weapons, to prevent the proliferation of such weapons and their delivery vehicles. These range from several treaties between the United States of America and Russian Federation as well as various other initiatives, to the Nuclear Suppliers Group, theMissile Technology Control Regime, the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation, and the Wassenaar [...] Regional Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones (NWFZ) have been established to strengthen global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament norms and consolidate international efforts towards peace and security.

• Nuclear Weapons: Who Has What at a Glance

  Seeking to prevent the nuclear weapon ranks from expanding further, the United States and other like-minded countries negotiated the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1968 and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 1996. [...] India, Israel, and Pakistan never signed the NPT and possess nuclear arsenals. Iraq initiated a secret nuclear program under Saddam Hussein before the 1991 Persian Gulf War. North Korea announced its withdrawal from the NPT in January 2003 and has successfully tested advanced nuclear devices since that time. Iran and Libya have pursued secret nuclear activities in violation of the treaty’s terms, and Syria is suspected of having done the same. Still, nuclear nonproliferation successes outnumber [...] Stay informed on nonproliferation, disarmament, and nuclear weapons testing developments with periodic updates from the Arms Control Association. First Name Last Name Country United States Email (Optional) Image 8 Your donation will be securely processed. The United States, Russia, and China also possess smaller numbers of non-strategic (or tactical) nuclear warheads, which are shorter-range, lower-yield weapons that are not subject to any treaty limits.

• Instance Of

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