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Nuclear Weapon Nations and Arsenals Nuclear Weapons Frequently Asked Questions Version 2.20: 9 August 2001

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Nuclear Weapon Nations and Arsenals Nuclear Weapons Frequently Asked Questions Version 2.20: 9 August 2001 archived as http://www.stealthskater.com/Documents/Nuke_07A.doc [pdf] more on nuclear weapons at http://www.stealthskater.com/Nuke.htm note: because important websites are frequently "here today but gone tomorrow", the following was archived from http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Nwfaq/Nfaq7.html on October 20, 2003. This is NOT an attempt to divert readers from the aforementioned website. Indeed, the reader should only read this back-up copy if it cannot be found at the original author's site. Section 7.0 - Nuclear Weapon Nations and Arsenals Nuclear Weapons Frequently Asked Questions Version 2.20: 9 August 2001 COPYRIGHT CAREY SUBLETTE This material may be excerpted, quoted, or distributed freely provided that attribution to the author (Carey Sublette) and document name (Nuclear Weapons Frequently Asked Questions) is clearly preserved. I would prefer that the user also include the URL of the source. Only authorized host sites may make this document publicly available on the Internet through the World Wide Web, anonymous FTP, or other means. Unauthorized host sites are expressly forbidden. If you wish to host this FAQ, in whole or in part, please contact me at: [email protected] This restriction is placed to allow me to maintain version control. The current authorized host sites for this FAQ are the High Energy Weapons Archive hosted/mirrored at http://nuketesting.enviroweb.org/hew/ and "mirrored" at http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/ , http://gawain.membrane.com/hew/ and Rand Afrikaans University Engineering hosted at http://www-ing.rau.ac.za/ 7.0 - Nuclear Weapon Nations and Arsenals There are currently 5 nations considered to be "nuclear weapons nations" -- an internationally recognized status conferred by the Non-Proliferation Treaty. In order of acquisition of nuclear weapons, these are: the United States of America, the Soviet Union/Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and China. Since the nuclear tests conducted by India and Pakistan in May 1998, both nations have publicly declared themselves to in possession of a nuclear arsenal. But this status is not formally recognized by international bodies. In addition, Israel has deployed a nuclear arsenal but has not acknowledged it. The 3 smaller Soviet successor states that inherited nuclear arsenals (Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Belarus) have now relinquished all nuclear warheads which have been removed to Russia. 7.1 - Nuclear Weapon Treaties 7.2 - Declared States 7.2.1 United States 7.2.2 Russia 7.2.3 Britain 7.2.4 France 7.2.5 China 1 7.2.6 India 7.2.7 Pakistan 7.3 - Suspected States 7.3.1 Israel 7.3.2 Iran 7.3.3 North Korea 7.3.4 Libya 7.4 - States Formerly Possessing or Pursuing Nuclear Weapons 7.4.1 Argentina 7.4.2 Brazil 7.4.3 Iraq 7.4.4 South Africa 7.4.5 South Korea 7.4.6 Sweden 7.4.7 Switzerland 7.4.8 Taiwan 7.4.9 Algeria 7.4.10 Former Soviet States 7.4.10.1 Ukraine 7.4.10.2 Kazakhstan 7.4.10.3 Belarus 7.5 - Other Nuclear-Capable States 7.5.1 Australia 7.5.2 Canada 7.5.3 Germany 7.5.4 Japan 7.5.6 Netherlands 7.1 - Nuclear Weapon Treaties The 5 nation nuclear "club" is codified in International law by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) adopted at the U.N. on June 12, 1968, opened for signature on July 1, 1968, and entered into force of March 5, 1970. This treaty declares that only the 5 nations mentioned above may lawfully possess nuclear weapons but that all other nations may not be prohibited from acquiring peaceful nuclear technology. It also specifies that the 5 nuclear powers must seek to reduce and eliminate their arsenals as quickly as possible. It was not until 1998 (30 years after the NPT's adoption) that any nations admitted to having deploying a nuclear arsenal since that date -- an indication that the international norm it established did has had some effect on national behavior. Also no signatory to the pact has yet successfully acquired nuclear weapons after joining NPT. It has not, however, dissuaded several nations from pursuing these weapons (in some cases successfully). As of December 20, 2000, there are 187 parties to the NPT including 185 of the 189 member nations of the U.N. (Switzerland and the Vatican have signed but are not UN members). The only holdouts are Cuba, India, Israel, and Pakistan -- that last three of whom now possess nuclear weapons and cannot sign and retain their arsenals. Some nations who are parties to the treaty have pursued or believed to be pursuing weapons are Iraq, North Korea, Libya, and Iran. South Africa -- which admitted in the early 1990s to having developed an arsenal in the 1980s -- has destroyed the arsenal and has since signed the pact. 2 It should be noted that although Iraq made substantial progress in pursuing nuclear weapons while a member of NPT, no NPT safeguarded facilities contributed directly to this effort. In fact, no safeguarded facility has ever been shown to contribute to a nuclear weapon effort after having been placed under safeguards (other than to simply increase the technical expertise of the operating nation). It is only through secret programs conducted entirely outside NPT that nations have been able to pursue nuclear weapons. While the NPT regime is scarcely foolproof, it has been effective in preventing the diversion of civilian nuclear technology and facilities placed under safeguards. 4 nations that came into existence with the breakup of the Soviet Union inherited nuclear weapons are Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Belarus. It was agreed by these nations that Russia would be the designated successor to the Soviet Union under NPT. All have now signed the NPT and all nuclear warheads have been removed to Russian soil. The NPT was originally of limited duration. Its initial 25 year period expired in 1995. The NPT Review and Extension Conference was held in New York from April 17 to May 12, 1995. Of the (then) 178 signatories, 175 attended. More than half of the signatories (111) sponsored renewal, this time indefinitely instead of a limited duration. As a result of majority sponsorship, the treaty extension was enacted without a formal vote. 3 resolutions were also adopted that reaffirmed, clarified, and strengthened the basic NPT approach. 3 signatories to the original pact (such as Iran) opposed extending the pact at all and boycotted the proceedings. The 5 NPT-recognized nuclear weapon states became official signatories to the treaty in the following order: the United Kingdom (November 27, 1968), the United States and Soviet Union together (March 5, 1970), China (March 9, 1992), and France (August 2, 1992). The then-UN member of China (now Taiwan) became a signatory on January 27, 1970 but is now no longer recognized as a UN member of NPT signatory. The first nation to accede to the NPT was Ireland (July 1, 1968). There is a non-treaty alliance called the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to which most industrialized countries belong. This organization restricts the access of dual-use technology to countries suspected of pursuing nuclear arms. Other treaties restricting nuclear arms include. Antarctic Treaty Signatories: 40 nations (1994) Date: 4 August 1963 Prevents military use of Antarctic including stationing or testing nuclear weapons Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Signatories: U.S., USSR, UK Date: 4 August 1963 Prohibits nuclear tests above ground, under water, or in space. Outer Space Treaty Signatories: 93 nations (1994) Date: 27 January 1967 Prohibits the introduction of nuclear weapons into space. Treaty of Tlatelolco Signatories: USA and all of South America (26 nations) Date: 1967 Bans nuclear weapons from South America. 3 Limited Test Ban Treaty Signatories: 120 nations (1994) Date: 1968 Prohibits nuclear tests above ground, under water, or in space. Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Signatories: 187 nations (December 20, 2000) Date: adopted 1 July 1968, in force 5 March 1970, renewed indefinitely May 11, 1995 Prohibits the development or transfer of nuclear weapons or related technologies by and to non- weapon holding states. As of December 20, 200, the only non-signers are Israel, India, Pakistan, and Cuba. Seabed Treaty Signatories: 88 nations (1994) Date: 1971 Prohibits deployment of weapons of mass destruction on the sea floor beyond the 12-mile coastal sovereignty limit. SALT I (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks I) Signatories: U.S., USSR Date: May 26, 1972 Placed limits on arsenals for both signatories, no destruction of existing arsenals is called for. Duration was until October 3, 1977. But both nations agreed to continue to abide by its limits. Threshold Test Ban Treaty Signatories: U.S., USSR Date: 1974 Restricted underground nuclear tests to 150 kilotons. SALT II (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks II) Signatories: U.S., USSR, UK Date: 18 June 1979 (never ratified) Placed tighter limits on arsenals, some weapon destruction is required to meet them. South Pacific Nuclear Free-Zone (Roratonga) Treaty Signatories: 11 nations (1994) Date: 1985 Prohibits testing, deployment, or acquisition of nuclear weapons in the South Pacific. Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty Signatories: U.S., USSR Date: December 8, 1987 Eliminated short and medium range nuclear missiles. All such weapons were destroyed. START I (Strategic Arms Reduction Talks I) Signatories: U.S., USSR Date: 1991 (went into effect December 5, 1994) Reduces arsenals by about 30%. The original signatory USSR has since dissolved and the states of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and recently Ukraine have endorsed the treaty by signing the 4 START I Protocol. As a result of Ukraine's joining NPT, the treaty went into effect in December 1994. 5 START II (Strategic Arms Reduction Talks II) Signatories: U.S., Russia Date: 1993; U.S.
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