40th jubilee of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

The 5^th of March marks the 40^th jubilee of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Forty years ago only a few countries possessed nuclear weapons. The US, China, the Soviet Union, Great Britain and France were among them. Not to let other countries have nukes, the United Nations Organization (UN) approved a nuclear non-proliferation treaty, which took effect in 1970. The five aforementioned countries signed the treaty. Thus, they confirmed their nuclear state status but at the same time undertook an obligation not to transfer their nuclear technologies to other states, which, in their turn, promised not to seek nukes. And having signed the treaty, the nuclear states agreed to take steps to eliminate all their nuclear arsenals worldwide.

Now that four decades have passed, almost 190 countries joined the treaty. It means that it really works! However, not everything goes as expected. The nuclear states have not eliminated their arsenals. And, according to different estimates, more than 30 countries out of those signed the treaty, are persistent in seeking nuclear weapons. Of course, without making it public. Israel, India and Pakistan are the most successful here but they did not join the Treaty at all, while North Korea quitted it a few years ago. But Iran and North Korea should be discussed separately. Because these two countries are being suspected of seeking nuclear weapons and this undermines the Non-Proliferation Treaty and evokes concern worldwide.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said, “Unfortunately, the situation in the world is changing for the worst amid the increasing number of nuclear states, some of them not even trying to conceal their illegal activities. In some regions, for example, in the Middle East and on the Korean Peninsula, nuclear weapons can lead to huge problems and undermines stability around the globe.”