During a June 30th-July 1st NPT Review Conference follow-up meeting, the P5 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council) reaffirmed their continued commitment to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). The following is an excerpt from the Final Joint Press Statement of the P5:
“The P5 States recalled their commitment to promote and ensure the swift entry into force of the CTBT and its universalization. They called upon all States to uphold the moratorium on nuclear weapons-test explosions or any other nuclear explosion, and to refrain from acts that would defeat the object and purpose of the treaty pending its entry into force.”
Of the P5 members, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom have signed and ratified the CTBT. China and the United States have signed the treaty, but not ratified it. The CTBT cannot enter into force until all states considered part of Annex 2 (states that participated in the 1996 Conference on Disarmament and possessed nuclear power or research reactors at that time) have ratified the treaty. Nine Annex 2 states, including China and the United States, have not ratified the treaty, thus preventing its entry into force.
Now, it is important that the P5 governments and others back up their CTBT words with action.
On March 29, National Security Advisor Tom Donilon reiterated the Obama administration’s support for prompt U.S. ratification and entry into force, and Under Secretary of State Ellen Tauscher said on May 10 that the administration has begun to explain the administration’s case to the Senate. It will take some time to lay the groundwork for ratification, but a sustained effort can achieve Senate approval before the 2015 conference.