Frogs in a Well: Revision of the NPT (Treaty on Nuclear Non-Proliferation)

Immediately following the nuclear arms race of the Cold War, the United Nations scrambled to establish a system for regulating the use of these dangerous arms. Though the treaty has been in effect for almost forty-five years, many countries including the US have yet to denuclearize their weapon stores, and nations such as North Korea have steadfastly ignored international pressure against their nuclear activity. (Currently, 4 out of 193 UN member states have not ratified the Treaty on Nuclear Non-proliferation*: Israel, Iran, Pakistan, and North Korea.) The treaty advocates peaceful uses for nuclear energy, but nuclear energy can easily be enriched for aggressive purposes, and several states have opted to become nuclear powers despite the clauses in the NPT. Why is this so pressing of an issue as diplomats claim? Take a look at the conflict from the Spanish point of view, a perspective most definitely outside of our viewing well.

*Nuclear non-proliferation: prevention of the spread of nuclear weapons and related technology, while promoting the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and encouraging nuclear disarmament (UN Office for Disarmament Affairs)

The United Nations General Assembly; the debating floor for all treaties such as the NPT.

Disarmament and International Security Committee

Spain

Revision of the NPT (Position Paper, Model United Nations)

            The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the United Nations’ sole authority for the prevention of international exchange of nuclear weapons, has failed to address the evolving threat of nuclear technology. The NPT was originally adopted in 1970, and sought to a) disarm the nuclear stockpiles from the Cold War, b) provide countries with access to unenriched uranium as an energy source, and c) prevent the proliferation of fissile material to groups with the potential for misuse. Due to its vague clauses encouraging “effective measures in the direction” of nuclear disarmament, the treaty has thus far not brought about successful denuclearization of nuclear states including the US and Russian Federation; additionally, changing international relations such as the 1969 secret agreement between Israel and the United States, and nuclear facilities in neighboring Iran have emboldened Israel’s undeclared pursuit of nuclear weapons. Under the current treaty, many states have sought nuclear energy for “peaceful purposes,” then developed the capability to illegally enrich fissile material into nuclear weapons, while simultaneously evading the scrutiny of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors. Four countries have withdrawn or not acceded to the NPT (Israel, Iran, Pakistan, North Korea), and their nuclear weapon capabilities drastically increase the potential for harm, especially if found in the hands of groups willing to commit crimes against humanity.

            The United Nations acknowledges the need for revision of the NPT, and has held a NPT Review Conference every five years since 1975. At its fifth session, the conference extended the treaty infinitely, and subsequent sessions have focused on fulfilling the treaty’s clause on weapons disarmament, peaceful nuclear energy use, and a “nuclear-weapons-free zone” in the Middle East. Nuclear-weapons-free zones, as declared in the Tlatelolco Treaty (A/6663), are regions where the possession, trade, and testing of nuclear weapons is banned, and can be found in all seven continents. To promote safe and effective use of nuclear energy, the International Atomic Energy Agency is tasked with periodic peer review of nuclear facilities of member states to the NPT, with the most recent Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission examining Pakistan’s Nuclear Regulatory Framework in April 2014. Steps toward international disarmament have been countered by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)’s policy of “nuclear sharing,” where member states of the organization use and store their nuclear weapons for the collective security of all NATO states. Communication between the United Nations and the network of non-governmental organizations concerning denuclearization and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons is coordinated by the NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace and Security.

            Spain stresses that the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is the most valuable means available for addressing nuclear proliferation and energy concerns. Spain has demonstrated its steadfast support of regulations regarding these matters through its accession of the NPT (1987), its numerous attempts to strengthen Spanish nuclear facility security measures, and its attendance at the G-8 Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction. As the former technology program coordinator at the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, Spain has drafted a 1540 National Action Plan for the prevention of nuclear proliferation among terror groups, and strongly urges other member states of the NPT to take similar precautionary measures. Spain anticipates the preparatory conference for the NPT review session in 2015, and proposes that discussion focus on improving progress in the disarmament agenda. Spain advises that a separate conference is convened for the development of a non-nuclear Middle East, thereby setting the expectation for non-signatories to the NPT, and pressuring the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to abandon its ambitious nuclear program. Spain implores fellow member states of the NPT to support the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), to counter the relative ease with which nations today are able to develop nuclear weapons capabilities, and to constrain the development of a regional arms race similar to that of the Cold War. Spain is adamant in its belief that possession of nuclear weapons hinders mutual trust between countries, and declares the need for transparency in order to manifest a nuclear weapons-free zone, under the NPT, encompassing the entire world. 

WORKS CITED

US Department of State. “Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty.” Accessed 12 June 2014. http://www.state.gov/t/avc/c42328.htm

United Nations General Assembly. “Delayed Conference on Nuclear-Weapon-Free Middle East among Major Concerns.” Accessed 13 June 2014. http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2014/dc3487.doc.htm

La Moncloa. “Gonzalo de Benito attends 3^rd Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague.” Gobierno de Espana. 12 June 2014. http://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/idiomas/9/gobierno/news/2014/20140325_nuclear_security_summit.htm

International Atomic Energy Agency. “IAEA Mission Concludes Peer Review of Pakistan’s Nuclear Regulatory Framework.” 10 June 2014. http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/2014/prn201409.html

Miller, Marvin, Lawrence Scheinman et al. “Israel, India, and Pakistan: Engaging the Non-NPT States in the Nonproliferation Regime.” Arms Control Association. Accessed 12 June 2014. https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2003_12/MillerandScheinman

NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace & Security. “NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace, and Security.” Accessed 15 June 2014. http://disarm.igc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=54

United Nations. Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Office for Disarmament Affairs. Accessed 9 June 2014. http://disarmament.un.org/treaties/t/npt/text