Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament

Conference on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament contributes to debate on UK ’s nuclear weapons strategy

On 2 December 2006, UNA-UK hosted a conference on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament at the Temple of Peace, Cardiff, in partnership with UNA Wales and the David Davies Memorial Institute of International Studies. The event featured presentations from the leading experts in the field, offering differing perspectives on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. The conference offered one of the first major opportunities for members of the public to contribute to the important debate on whether to replace Trident, the UK's nuclear weapons system (see section below on The NPT and the UK's Nuclear Strategy for more information).

Click here for details of the conference and to watch the event online.

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Regime

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is the cornerstone of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. The NPT, which entered into force in 1970, represents the only legally-binding global instrument for promoting nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.

With 189 states parties, the NPT has been ratified by more countries than any other arms limitation and disarmament agreement. The Treaty aims to limit nuclear weapons to the nuclear-weapon states - those five states (China, France, Russia, the UK and the US) which had, prior to 1967, manufactured and exploded a nuclear device.

Three countries - India, Pakistan and Israel - have never been party to the NPT: India and Pakistan are declared nuclear-weapon states, while Israel is widely believed to possess a nuclear-weapon capacity. In 2003, North Korea became the first state party to withdraw from the NPT, and, in October 2006, it carried out its first successful nuclear-weapon test. These and other factors have placed the Treaty under considerable strain in recent years.

For more information, read the UNA-UK Briefing Note, 'The state of the nuclear non-proliferation regime: the NPT and the challenges ahead'.

The role of the UN: oversight and enforcement

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is the UN's central institution for cooperation and oversight in the nuclear field. It was established in 1957 in response to the fears and expectations accompanying the discovery of nuclear energy. The IAEA's statute outlines the three pillars of the Agency's work in safeguarding global disarmament: nuclear verification and security; safety; and technology transfer.

Under its statute, the Agency is mandated to notify the UN Security Council, as the organ with primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, of non-compliance with international agreements relating to the use of nuclear energy.The IAEA reports annually to the UN General Assembly and as required to the Security Council on any non-compliance by states with their nuclear non-proliferation obligations. The Security Council then decides whether to take any enforcement action.

For more information, read the UNA-UK Briefing Note, 'The oversight and enforcement mechanisms of the nuclear non-proliferation regime: the roles of the IAEA and the UN Security Council'.

The NPT and the UK's nuclear strategy

The United Kingdom, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a nuclear-weapon state, has a particular responsibility to contribute to the maintenance of global peace and security. The issue of whether to replace 'Trident', the UK's current nuclear-weapon system, must be assessed in the context of the UK's global responsibilities and, in particular, its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). How a decision on Trident's replacement relates to the UK’s obligations under the treaty is by no means clear-cut and has been the subject of considerable legal and political debate.

For more information, read the UNA-UK Briefing Note, 'The NPT and the UK's nuclear strategy: the question of Trident'.

The UK Government announced on 23 November that a vote will take place in early 2007 on the future of Trident. The government then published a white paper on 4 December 2006 outlining its position, which was debated in the House of Commons later that day.

View the Government white paper on Trident's replacement and the Trident debate in the House of Commons.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence have issued press releases and fact sheets to coincide with the white paper.

View the FCO Press Release, MOD Announcement and Fact sheets.

On 30 June 2006, the House of Commons Defence Committee published a report on the issue of Trident’s replacement. This report questioned the need to take a decision on Trident replacement now. The government responded to this report on 20 July 2006.

View the Defence Committee Report on Trident and the Government response.

UNA-UK policy on non-proliferation and disarmament

To view the most recent UNA-UK policy document that was formulated at Annual Conference 2007, please click here. To view the previous year's statement, click here.

Previous briefings on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament

• The UN's role in stemming nuclear proliferation (UNA-UK, November 2006)
• The Future of Trident and the NPT (Alexander Ramsbotham, January 2006)