Nuclear Proliferation and Arms Control (Part 3)

Nuclear Testing and Nuclear Test Ban Treaties

Number of Nuclear Tests, 1945-2009

Major nuclear powers have honored a voluntary moratorium since early 1990s.

The U.S. hasn’t conducted a nuclear test since 1992.

Time Lapse of the World's Nuclear Weapons Tests, 1945-1998

Where nuclear tests can occur:

1. Atmosphere (above ground)

2. Underground

3. In space

4. Underwater at sea

U.S. Test Sites

NEVADA AND NEW MEXICO DESERTS

SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN

U.S. Test Site at Yucca Flats in the Nevada Desert

The Bikini Atoll was the site of early atomic weapons testing, including the first H-bomb in 1952. The United States conducted 67 atomic weapons tests on the atolls of Bikini and Enewetak in the Marshall Islands between 1946 and 1958.

Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty 1963

Prohibits the testing of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, in space, or underwater.

Only underground testsare permitted.

Signed by U.S., Britain,and the Soviet Union.

Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty(CTBT) 1996

Prohibits all testing of nuclear weapons, including underground tests.

President Clinton wasthe first world leader tosign this treaty.

Sent to Senate for ratification.

Senate Vote on CTBT

1999 ratification vote failed in the Senate by a partisan vote of 51-48.

All Democrats voted

for the treaty and allbut four Republicans were opposed.

Bush and the CTBT

Current Status of CTBT

CTBT will not be in force until 44 specific “nuclear capable” states ratify it.

184 countries have signed the CTBT, but nine “nuclear capable” states have NOTratified the treaty.

U.S.ChinaNorth KoreaIndiaPakistanIsraelIndonesiaIranEgypt

Reading Assignment on the CTBT

Read the provided newspaper article, NY Times editorial and Wall Street Journal op-ed piece on the merits of ratifying the CTBT and answer the questions on the accompanying handout

You will be expected to know the arguments in support of the CTBT and the arguments againstthe treaty’s ratification.

Reading Assignment Review

Should the U.S. Ratify the CTBT?

YES!

Would make it harder for non-weapons states to do

what?Obtain nuclear weapons,thus helping to stop theproliferation of nuclear weapons.

Would make it harder for nuclear weapons states to do what?Develop new types of nuclear weapons, thus making a new arms race less likely

NO! Rogue states can’t be

trusted to do what?Comply with the treaty – even if they agree to sign it..

Would prevent the U.S.

from doing what?Developing newtypes of nuclear weapons.

YES! NO!

Aging U.S. weapons must be tested in order to what?Ensure that they’re safe and that they still work.

Clandestine tests by rogue states might go…

Undetected.

Safety and reliability of existing weapons can be verified how?Without testing and usingcomputer simulations Instead.

International monitoring system now in place that would detect any secretly- conducted tests. Treaty also allows for inspectionsto verify compliance.

CTBT provides forfor creation ofglobal networkof monitoringstations andlaboratoriesmeantto detectnuclearexplosions.

CTBT Monitoring System

Obama and the CTBT

Obama supports Senateratification of the CTBT.

Says we can’t expectother countries to stop seeking and testing nuclear weapons unlesswe agree to a permanent ban.

Review: Test Ban Treaties

What did the Limited Test Ban Treaty prohibit?

What would the CTBT prohibit? Which six nuclear weapons states

haven’t ratified the CTBT? Why hasn’t the U.S. ratified the CTBT? What are the main arguments in

support of the CTBT? What are the main arguments against

the CTBT? What is Obama’s position on the CTBT?