The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty: Delayed Review–Issues Old and New

Abstract

This paper addresses the current uncertain status of the NPT Review Conference, originally scheduled for 2020. When the Conference is eventually held, three principal issues likely to be examined are the continued failure to bring the CTBT into force; the lack of progress leading to an international conference on the importance of promptly negotiating a Weapons of Mass Destruction Free Zone for the Middle East, the cause of the failure of the 2015 Review Conference; and the effect on the Review Conference of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which entered into force in January 2021. The 2020 Review Conference is now scheduled for August 2021. Thus the prediction of which matters will be most important at the Conference is somewhat uncertain. Whenever the Conference is held, serious issues will confront it. The Treaty has been weakened over the years; it is significantly endangered by the increasing threat of climate change. It is highly important to strengthen the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, the centerpiece of international security, to maximize its chances to remain viable against the threat of climate change. A strong, positive Review Conference will do much to achieve this.