Syllabus: GS2/Global Grouping; Effect of Policies of Developed Countries
Context
- Recently, Iran’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed that its Parliament is drafting legislation to withdraw from the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Treaty.
- It comes amid escalating tensions with Israel and renewed scrutiny from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT): Background
- It is one of the most widely adhered-to arms control agreements signed in 1968 and entered into force in 1970.
- It was extended indefinitely in 1995.
- Membership Provisions (Two Categories):
- Nuclear-Weapon States (NWS): These are the five countries that had tested nuclear weapons before January 1, 1967 — United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom.
- Non-Nuclear-Weapon States (NNWS): All other signatories agree not to pursue nuclear weapons and to accept IAEA safeguards on their nuclear activities.
- NPT established a three-pillar framework:
- Non-Proliferation: NWS agreed not to transfer nuclear weapons or assist NNWS in acquiring them.
- Disarmament: All parties committed to pursuing negotiations toward nuclear disarmament.
- Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy: To access nuclear technology for peaceful purposes under IAEA safeguards.
- Withdrawal Clause (Article X of NPT): It allows any state to exit if it determines that ‘extraordinary events’ have jeopardized its supreme national interests, provided it gives three months’ notice to other signatories and the UN Security Council (UNSC).
Present Status
- A total of 191 States have joined the Treaty, including the five nuclear-weapon States.
- India, Pakistan, South Sudan and Israel never joined the treaty, however they are known or believed to possess nuclear weapons.
- North Korea joined the NPT in 1985 but withdrew in 2003.
| Other Important Nuclear Disarmament Treaties – Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I & II), 1991–1993: These were signed between the USA and the Soviet Union (later Russia), aimed to reduce deployed strategic nuclear warheads. – Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), 1996: It bans all nuclear explosions for both civilian and military purposes. 1. It has not entered into force due to the non-ratification by the USA, China, India, and Pakistan. – Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), 2017: It is the first legally binding international agreement to comprehensively prohibit nuclear weapons. 1. It entered into force in 2021, though none of the nuclear-armed states have joined. – New START Treaty, 2010: It limits the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems. |
India’s Approach NPT
- India’s position on the Treaty has remained consistent since the treaty’s inception in 1968.
- India’s primary objection lies in the treaty’s division of the world into nuclear ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’.
- India’s refusal to sign was based on ‘enlightened self-interest and considerations of national security’, as highlighted by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Parliament.
India’s Alternative Vision
- India has consistently advocated for a universal, non-discriminatory, and verifiable disarmament regime.
- India has proposed a Nuclear Weapons Convention that would ban the development, production, and use of nuclear weapons globally.
- Voluntary Commitments and Responsible Conduct By India:
- It maintains a voluntary moratorium on nuclear testing.
- It adheres to a No First Use (NFU) policy.
- It has implemented stringent export controls and aligned with global regimes like the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and the Wassenaar Arrangement.
- India’s 2008 Civil Nuclear Agreement with the USA and subsequent waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) further acknowledged its responsible nuclear behavior.
Concerns & Challenges
- Disarmament Stalemate: Critics argue that nuclear-weapon states have not made sufficient progress toward disarmament (Article VI of Treaty), undermining the treaty’s credibility.
- Non-Compliance and Withdrawal: North Korea’s withdrawal and Iran’s contested nuclear activities have tested the treaty’s enforcement mechanisms.
- Technological Dual-Use Dilemma: Peaceful nuclear technology can be diverted for weapons development, raising concerns about proliferation risks.
Future Outlook
- Strengthening Verification: Expanding the IAEA’s role and universalizing the Additional Protocol could enhance transparency and trust.
- Bridging the Disarmament Gap: Renewed commitment by nuclear powers to reduce arsenals is essential to maintain the treaty’s legitimacy.
- Addressing Non-Signatories: Engaging India, Pakistan, and Israel in parallel frameworks may help integrate them into the global non-proliferation regime.
- Preventing Weaponization of New Technologies: The rise of cyber threats and autonomous systems necessitates updated safeguards.
- Preparatory process for the NPT Review Conference (2026), held every five years to assess progress and address emerging threats, is underway.
Read this in Hindi: परमाणु अप्रसार संधि (NPT)
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