On this day in 1968, the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) was signed in New York by the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and 59 other countries, a landmark effort to halt the global spread of nuclear weapons.
The treaty came into force in March 1970 and was initially intended to last 25 years. In 1995, it was extended indefinitely, becoming a central pillar of international security policy. As of today, nearly every recognised nation on earth is a signatory- with the major exceptions being India, Israel, and Pakistan, who have refused to sign, and North Korea, which signed and later withdrew in 2003.
The nuclear non-proliferation treaty is notable for its asymmetry: nuclear states pledge to pursue disarmament and assist non-nuclear states with peaceful nuclear energy, while non-nuclear states agree never to acquire nuclear weapons. Despite this imbalance, the treaty was widely accepted, as most countries lacked the capacity or desire to build nuclear arms- and feared the consequences if others did.
Yet over the decades, cracks have emerged. North Korea’s withdrawal and weapons programme, the exposure of Iraq’s covert nuclear development in the 1980s, and ongoing concerns over Iran’s uranium enrichment activities have all tested the treaty’s credibility.
Iran, in particular, remains a key concern. Though a signatory to the NPT, its nuclear ambitions have drawn intense international scrutiny. Western intelligence agencies allege that Iran’s programme has included military dimensions, a claim Tehran denies. Recent developments, including American and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian facilities, and the broader escalation in the region, have renewed fears about a potential nuclear arms race in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, nuclear-armed states like the United States, Russia, and China continue to modernise their arsenals, raising questions about whether the NPT’s original promise of disarmament is being kept.
Despite its flaws, the nuclear non-proliferation treaty remains one of the most widely supported arms control agreements in history, and one of the last remaining barriers between diplomacy and catastrophe.
Also read: Were Iran’s nuclear sites really destroyed?
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