Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is an international treaty aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and promoting cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The treaty was negotiated between 1965 and 1968 and entered into force in 1970, with 191 countries currently signed on, though North Korea has withdrawn and four UN member states have never accepted it. The treaty defines nuclear-weapon states as those that have built and tested a nuclear explosive device before 1967, with the United States, Russia, the UK, France, and China being the recognized members. The NPT is based on a central bargain where non-nuclear states give up the option of developing nuclear weapons in exchange for access to peaceful nuclear technology and cooperation on disarmament. The treaty is reviewed every five years and has been extended indefinitely since 1995, with some critics arguing that it has not been effective in preventing nuclear proliferation and promoting disarmament.learn more on wikipedia