August 7, 2024
Hanna Notte
The following is from DeepCuts.org.
The end of explosive nuclear weapons testing is one of the key non-proliferation breakthroughs of the past 30 years. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) is the only state known to have conducted nuclear testing since the Indian and Pakistani tests in 1998 and it has not done so since 2017. However, in light of the growing salience of nuclear weapons and a crumbling nuclear arms control architecture, concerns over a resumption of explosive nuclear testing have been on the rise.
The conclusion of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 1996 marked a significant milestone in nuclear non-proliferation efforts, yet the resurgence of nuclear tensions in recent years as well as developments in Russia and the United States, raises concerns about the potential resumption of explosive nuclear testing. This paper examines the shifting geopolitical landscape post the beginning of the February 2022 Russo-Ukrainian war concerning nuclear testing. It highlights increasing activities at nuclear test sites in China, Russia, and the U.S. that could indicate preparations for testing, alongside the enduring challenges posed by the CTBT’s ratification process. Despite geopolitical strains, ongoing support for the CTBT by certain states and the efforts of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) persist nevertheless. Therefore, the paper argues for renewed international cooperation in bolstering the CTBT framework to mitigate the risks associated with nuclear testing.
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