Policy & Advocacy
Background on Nuclear Arms Treaties, February 2011
Background on Nuclear Arms Treaties< February 2011
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is the central framework for preventing the spread of nuclear weapons, promoting disarmament, and safeguarding peaceful nuclear technology. Nearly all countries have ratified the NPT; the notable non‑parties are India, Israel, Pakistan, and North Korea. The United States and Russia still hold roughly 90% of global nuclear weapons, making their cooperation essential to global nonproliferation and disarmament efforts.
Key treaties and their roles
- Nuclear Non‑Proliferation Treaty (NPT): Prohibits non‑nuclear states from acquiring nuclear weapons, obliges nuclear states to pursue disarmament, and guarantees peaceful nuclear cooperation.
- START / New START: Historic START limits and verification measures were central to transparency; New START (signed 2010) reduces deployed strategic warheads to 1,550, caps delivery systems at 700, and restores verification protocols.
- Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT/Moscow Treaty): Set reductions without strong verification and primarily relied on stockpile storage rather than dismantlement.
- Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT): Seeks to end nuclear testing; not ratified by the U.S. Senate (1999), though many countries have ratified and the Obama Administration supported U.S. ratification.
Strategic significance and verification
Verification mechanisms in treaties like START and New START are critical for transparency and for enabling further, irreversible reductions. The expiration or absence of verifiable agreements undermines confidence-building between the major nuclear powers and weakens the NPT regime’s effectiveness.
Moral and policy advocacy (USCCB and Church stance)
- The U.S. bishops and the Church advocate moving away from reliance on nuclear weapons and treating a global ban as a tangible policy goal rather than only a moral ideal.
- The Church opposes the use of nuclear weapons (especially against non‑nuclear threats) and the development of new nuclear arms, urging replacement of deterrence doctrine with concrete disarmament measures, dialogue, and multilateral negotiation.
- The USCCB actively supported New START ratification and has prepared to back CTBT ratification if it is submitted.
Actions requested
- Urge the U.S. Senate to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty if introduced.
- Urge the House to support the Global Security Priorities Resolution linking nuclear reductions to funding for nonproliferation and humanitarian programs.