The Treaty establishes a CTBT Organization (CTBTO), located in Vienna, to ensure the implementation of its provisions, including those provisions for international verification measures. The CTBT prohibits nuclear weapon test explosions. It has not yet entered into force, since three of the 44 required states have yet to sign it and five to ratify it.
- Opened for Signature: 24 September 1996
- Duration: Indefinite
- Depository: UN Secretary-General
- Number of Signatories: 183 - Of the 44 States noted in (Article XIV) Annex 2: 41
- Number of Ratifications: 164 - Of the 44 States noted in (Article XIV) Annex 2: 36
The CTBT with its 183 signatories and 163 ratifications is one of the most widely supported arms-control treaties. This near universal support is due to the treaty’s non-discriminatory nature, where everyone has the same obligation never to conduct a nuclear explosion. As another mark of progress, the prohibition against testing has emerged as an established global political and behavioural norm. The international condemnation of North Korea as the only country that has conducted nuclear tests in this millennium is a vivid illustration
A lot has changed for India since the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was opened for signature in 1996, and the same is true for the treaty itself — enough to prompt fresh thinking about some renewed engagement.
India did not support the treaty in 1996 — and still does not — but it had been very supportive during negotiations. The roots of that exuberance can be traced to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s famous initiative in 1954 for a “standstill agreement” on nuclear testing. His intervention came at a time when the U.S. and the Soviet Union were detonating powerful nuclear weapons with increasing frequency. Nehru played an important role in building international momentum for the 1963 Limited Test Ban Treaty, which India joined.
Developments - 2016
On 7 January, the CTBTO Preparatory Commission held a special meeting after the 2016 DPRK nuclear test. The meeting reviewed the technical findings of the DPRK’s tests. Several Member States urged for the early entry into force of the CTBT.
On 6 June, U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes discussed President Obama’s attempts to ratify the CTBT, as well as his attempts to strengthen the norm against nuclear testing.
Courtesy: www.nti.org / UN Information Centre for India and Bhutan
A lot has changed for India since the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was opened for signature in 1996, and the same is true for the treaty itself — enough to prompt fresh thinking about some renewed engagement.
India did not support the treaty in 1996 — and still does not — but it had been very supportive during negotiations. The roots of that exuberance can be traced to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s famous initiative in 1954 for a “standstill agreement” on nuclear testing. His intervention came at a time when the U.S. and the Soviet Union were detonating powerful nuclear weapons with increasing frequency. Nehru played an important role in building international momentum for the 1963 Limited Test Ban Treaty, which India joined.
Developments - 2016
On 7 January, the CTBTO Preparatory Commission held a special meeting after the 2016 DPRK nuclear test. The meeting reviewed the technical findings of the DPRK’s tests. Several Member States urged for the early entry into force of the CTBT.
On 6 June, U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes discussed President Obama’s attempts to ratify the CTBT, as well as his attempts to strengthen the norm against nuclear testing.
Courtesy: www.nti.org / UN Information Centre for India and Bhutan
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