Explanation - The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty prohibits “any nuclear weapon test
explosion
or any other nuclear explosion” anywhere in the world. The treaty was opened for
signature in
September 1996, and has been signed by 187 nations and ratified by 178. The treaty
cannot
formally enter into force until it is ratified by 44 specific nations, eight of which have yet to
do so: India, China, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, Iran, Egypt, and the United States. In
order to
verify compliance with its provisions, the treaty establishes a global network (CTBTO) of
monitoring facilities and allows for on-site inspections of suspicious events. Since the
conclusion and opening for signature of the CTBT, nuclear testing has become taboo.
Today, even those nuclear-armed states that have not signed or not ratified the CTBT,
including India, Israel, and Pakistan, observe nuclear testing moratoriums. Only one
country has conducted nuclear test explosions in this century, and even that
country—North Korea—halted nuclear testing in 2017.
Although the CTBT has not formally entered into force, the treaty has, for now, achieved
its
primary goal: ending nuclear weapon test explosions.
Explanation - The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty prohibits “any nuclear weapon test
explosion
or any other nuclear explosion” anywhere in the world. The treaty was opened for
signature in
September 1996, and has been signed by 187 nations and ratified by 178. The treaty
cannot
formally enter into force until it is ratified by 44 specific nations, eight of which have yet to
do so: India, China, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, Iran, Egypt, and the United States. In
order to
verify compliance with its provisions, the treaty establishes a global network (CTBTO) of
monitoring facilities and allows for on-site inspections of suspicious events. Since the
conclusion and opening for signature of the CTBT, nuclear testing has become taboo.
Today, even those nuclear-armed states that have not signed or not ratified the CTBT,
including India, Israel, and Pakistan, observe nuclear testing moratoriums. Only one
country has conducted nuclear test explosions in this century, and even that
country—North Korea—halted nuclear testing in 2017.
Although the CTBT has not formally entered into force, the treaty has, for now, achieved
its
primary goal: ending nuclear weapon test explosions.
