Text Only | Disarmament Diplomacy | Disarmament Documentation | ACRONYM Reports
back to the acronym home page
Calendar
UN/CD
NPT/IAEA
UK Policy
US Policy
Space/BMD
CTBT
BWC
CWC
WMD Possessors
About Acronym
Links
Glossary

WMD Possessors and Aspirants

Five states are defined as nuclear weapon states under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT):

At least three more are de facto nuclear weapon possessors (the D-3):

These eight have the most advanced missile programmes and have also had, and in some cases may continue to have, biological and/or chemical weapons or programmes.

Several further states are viewed as of proliferation concern or have programmes which have been exposed and are now being addressed and dismantled. These include:

This section gives news, analyses or documentation relating to the possession, proliferation or aspirations to acquire nuclear, chemical or biological weapons by states or groups other than Britain and the United States, which are covered in separate detail. This replaces previously separate features on Iraq, South Asia and Russia, but provides links to past coverage of those states or regions.

Recent Analysis from Disarmament Diplomacy

Engaging India, Israel and Pakistan in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Regime, by Jenny Nielsen

Rethinking Security Interests for a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in the Middle East, by Rebecca Johnson

Building Blocks for a WMD Disarmament Regime in the Middle East, by Merav Datan

Iran

In June 2008, the P5 +1 (the Permanent members of the UN Security Council, along with Germany) presented Iran with a renewed proposal, setting out incentives to resolve the dispute over Iran's nuclear programme.

The move follows UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR 1803), which was agreed on 29 February 2008, adopting further sanctions under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

Initial indications from Iran have been positive, but further details are yet to emerge.

Coverage in Disarmament Diplomacy

Background Documents

From April 24-27, 2006 Dr Rebecca Johnson, executive director of the Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy, attended a series of meetings in Tehran, hosted by the international Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs and Iran's Centre for Strategic Research.

Introduction, by Dr Rebecca Johnson

Disarmament and Sustainable Non-Proliferation, by Dr Rebecca Johnson, Presentation to the International Conference on Iran's nuclear energy programme: Politics and Prospects Centre for Strategic Research, Tehran, April 25, 2006.

See the Acronym Institute's Iran archive for further documents and analysis.

Back to the Top of the Page

North Korea

On February 13, 2007, the six party talks on North Korea's nuclear programme reached a breakthrough agreement of a North Korea Denuclearization Action Plan on February 13, 2007, in which North Korea was given 60 days to close its Yongbyon nuclear facility and allow International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors back, in return for supplies of heavy fuel oil.

In October 2007 a further agreement on 'Second Phase Actions' for implementing the 2005 Joint Statement on North Korea's nuclear programme. This set a deadline of 31 December 2007 for North Korea to make a full declaration of its nuclear programmes.

Following significant delays, North Korea has now presented a 60 page dossier of information concerning its nuclear programme and has publicly destroyed the cooling tower of its nuclear facility at Yongbyon.

North Korea: Recent Coverage in Disarmament Diplomacy

Government Documents and Statements

Key Documents

See Acronym's North Korea archive for previous coverage of the North Korea nuclear crisis including previous rounds of the six party talks.

Back to the Top of the Page

Iraq

Iraq: Coverage in Disarmament Diplomacy

Iraq: Documents & Statements

Acronym Institute coverage of Iraq from 1998 - 2003 is available at: http://www.acronym.org.uk/iraq.

Back to the Top of the Page

Israel

Back to the Top of the Page

South Asia

On July 18, 2005, US President Bush and Indian President Manmohan Singh issued a joint statement, setting out their intention to cooperate a range of issues including high technology and space and "civilian" nuclear power. President Bush stated that "as a responsible state with advanced nuclear technology, India should acquire the same benefits and advantages as other such states." Bush announced that he would seek Congressional support to "adjust U.S. laws and policies", and that the United States would "work with friends and allies to adjust international regimes to enable full civil nuclear energy cooperation and trade with India." This is despite the fact that India has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

South Asia: Documents & Statements

South Asia: Coverage in Disarmament Diplomacy

Acronym Institute coverage of South Asia from 1998 - 2003 is available at: http://www.acronym.org.uk/sasia/index.htm.

Libya: Documents & Analysis

Back to the Top of the Page

Russia: Documents & Statements

Back to the Top of the Page

France: Documents & Statements

Back to the Top of the Page

© 2008 The Acronym Institute.