Treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and its recent issues: a legal perspective

Abstract

The treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons (NPT) is the cornerstone for a nuclear non-proliferation regime. Nuclear proliferation is a central global security issue and the most dangerous issue in the world of the coming era. After the failure of the NPT 2005 review conference, there is no doubt that the present crisis is the worst that the NPT has faced. There are many positive nuclear non-proliferation developments but there are also many negative developments. The compliance to NPT commitments for Nuclear Weapons States (NWS) and Non-Nuclear Weapons States (NNWS) alike and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy as an 'inalienable right' and the attempts to divert it, are the worst problems that face the NPT. The lack of NPT universality and the withdrawal from the NPT and the former nuclear technology issues are also critical problems that must be addressed.