the nuclear non proliferation treaty started in 1970.
the nuclear non proliferation treaty started in 1970.
when did the nuclear non proliferation treaty start?
1970
south africa is the only african country to have successfully developed nuclear weapons. it became the first country (followed by ukraine) with nuclear capability to voluntarily renounce and dismantle its programme and in the process signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in 1991. south africa undertook a nuclear weapons programme in the 1970s according to former state president fw de klerk, the decision to build a "nuclear deterrent" was taken "as early as 1974 against a backdrop of a soviet expansionist threat." south africa is alleged to have conducted a nuclear test over the atlantic in 1979, although this is officially denied. former president, fw de klerk, maintained that south africa had "never conducted a clandestine nuclear test." six nuclear devices were completed between 1980 and 1990, but all were dismantled before south africa signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in 1991.
south africa
in january 1995, the u.n. asked the international court of justice to render an advisory opinion on whether or not the threat or use of nuclear weapons in any circumstance is permitted under international law. judge schwebel was the only judge who answered the question in an affirmative manner. judge schwebel holds that the legality of the threat or use of nuclear weapons is established through state practice over many years by the world's major powers, the u.n. security council, the u.n. general assembly, the nuclear non proliferation treaty and other nuclear treaties. he specifically notes that in the nuclear non proliferation treaty, the possession of nuclear weapons by the five major nuclear powers is lawful until disarmament and that inherent in possession of nuclear weapons is deterrence and deterrence, by its nature, implies threat of use.
stephen m. schwebel