United Kingdom
Treaties Last updated: June, 2012
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Antarctic Treaty
The Treaty obligates parties to only use Antarctica for peaceful purposes. Military activities are prohibited, including the testing of weapons, nuclear explosions, and the disposal of radioactive waste in Antarctica.
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Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)
The CTBT prohibits nuclear weapon test explosions. It has not yet entered into force, since three of the 44 required states have yet to sign it and five to ratify it.
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Convention on Nuclear Safety
The Convention on Nuclear Safety is an incentive-based instrument that commits States operating nuclear power plants to establish and maintain a regulatory framework to govern the safety of nuclear installations.
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Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM)
The CPPNM is the only legally binding international agreement focusing on the physical protection of peaceful use nuclear materials.
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Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons (BTWC)
The treaty prohibits the development, production, stockpiling, or acquisition of biological and toxin weapons, and mandates the elimination of existing weapons, weapons production material, and delivery means.
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Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction (CWC)
The CWC requires State Parties not to develop, produce, acquire, stockpile or retain, transfer, use, or make military preparations to use chemical weapons. It entered into force in 1997.
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Convention on the Registration of Objects Launched in Outer Space (Launch Registration Convention)
The Convention obligates Parties to register launches of all objects launched into earth orbit or into outer space with an appropriate national space agency.
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International Convention on the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism
The Convention covers a broad range of acts and possible targets, including nuclear power plants and nuclear reactors. It criminalizes the planning, threatening, or carrying out acts of nuclear terrorism.
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Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management
The Joint Convention is the first international instrument to focus on minimizing the effects of hazardous radiological materials and developing best practices to promote an effective nuclear safety culture.
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Proposed Fissile Material (Cut-off) Treaty (FMCT)
The proposed treaty is intended to prohibit the production of fissile material. It has been on the proposed agenda of the Conference on Disarmament for many years, but the CD has not been able to establish a committee to begin formal negotiations because states disagree on the scope of the future treaty.
This material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, or agents. Copyright © 2011 by MIIS.
Get the Facts on United Kingdom
- Relies exclusively on four SSBNs for its nuclear deterrent
- Removed U.S. tactical nuclear weapons from its territory in 2008
- Renounced offensive biological weapons program in the 1950s
United Kingdom News on GSN
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U.K. Misplaced Radioactive Materials 30 Times in 10 Years
May 6, 2013
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U.K. Must Balance Trident Renewal With Ability to Conduct Traditional Military Campaigns
May 1, 2013
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U.S. Quietly Urging U.K. to Give up Nukes: Report
April 23, 2013
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NATO Says no Automatic Membership for Independent Scotland
April 11, 2013
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U.K. Repudiates Police Use of Chemical Incapacitants
April 9, 2013
