Chapter 2

How Does the Treaty Work?

uclear Weapon States (NWS)(China, France, the Soviet Union [now Russia], the United Kingdom, and the United States):

  • may retain their nuclear arsenals;
  • may not transfer nuclear weapons to anyone;
  • may not assist any non-nuclear weapon states (NNWS) to acquire, manufacture or control nuclear weapons; and
  • commit to pursuing negotiations in good faith towards ending the nuclear arms race and achieving nuclear disarmament.

Non-Nuclear Weapon States:
  • must not build, acquire, or possess nuclear weapons;
  • may research, produce, and use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; and
  • must accept safeguards (audits and intrusive on-site monitoring) on all of their nuclear activities and materials to verify they are not being used for nuclear weapons.

Multimedia: Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones

 

Chapter 2, page 1 of 2

This material is produced independently for NTI by the 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, agents.
Copyright © 2004 by MIIS.