Nuclear Treaties & Law
The international agreements that govern nuclear weapons, verification, and peaceful nuclear energy.
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
The cornerstone of global nuclear non-proliferation. Divides the world into nuclear-weapon states (NWS) and non-nuclear-weapon states (NNWS), obliging each group to distinct commitments.
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
Bans all nuclear explosions everywhere. Signed by 186 states - but not yet in force because 8 key states (including USA, China, India) have not ratified it.
Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
The first legally binding treaty explicitly prohibiting nuclear weapons. Supported by non-nuclear states and civil society; opposed by all nuclear-armed states and NATO members.
SALT / START Arms Reduction Treaties
A series of bilateral USโSoviet/Russian treaties that reduced nuclear arsenals from ~70,000 warheads at Cold War peak to ~5,000 today. New START suspended by Russia in 2023.
Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones
Regional treaties establishing zones free of nuclear weapons. Five NWFZs cover most of the Southern Hemisphere and significant parts of the globe.
IAEA Safeguards & Additional Protocol
The IAEA's verification system that nuclear materials declared by states are not diverted to weapons. The Additional Protocol strengthens inspections with broader access rights.