The Making of Nuclear Nonproliferation Regime, Strength, Shortcomings and its Future

This analysis is ongoing, thus when time allows I will get all elements of this piece in place, please do check back-Thank You

By Patrick Kluivert Ddiba, B.A International Relations USC 07, MIA International Security Policy Columbia-SIPA 09--------

The nuclear nonproliferation regime includes numerous treaties, expansive multi-lateral and bi-lateral diplomatic agreements, multilateral organizations and domestic agencies, and the domestic laws of participating countries. Since the birth of the nuclear age, U.S. has been vital in developing the regime. Despite almost universal international agreement opposing the further spread of nuclear weapons, several roadblocks have emerged in recent years: India and Pakistan went nuclear weapons in 1998; North Korea turned its back on the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) in 2003; Libya gave up a clandestine nuclear weapons program in 2004, and Iran has been noncompliance with NPT obligations since 2005. To make matters worse, nuclear-tech black market network run by A.Q. Khan has ignited new debate about how to strengthen the regime, including enhanced export controls and greater restrictions on sensitive technology. Predictably, the extension of civil nuclear cooperation by the United States to India, a non-party to the NPT, has raised questions about what benefits still exist for non-nuclear weapons states that remain within the treaty regime.