CTBT

Continued testing of nuclear weapons is an immediate and grave threat to national security. Banning nuclear tests will prevent our enemies from developing nuclear bombs that can reach our shores. The United States no longer needs to test nuclear weapons because of our state of the art stockpile stewardship program that keeps our arsenal safe and effective. As a result, Congress needs to pass the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) as a critical step in keeping our nation secure.

What is the CTBT?

President Dwight Eisenhower first sought a comprehensive test ban in the late-1950s. Since that time, a global halt to nuclear weapons testing has been a central, bipartisan national objective of the United States.

By 1992, on the heels of the Cold War, the United States, along with other world powers, recognized that the only viable path to security was through halting nuclear testing. In 1994, the world’s nations came together to negotiate the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) to help curb the spread of nuclear weapons and ensure an end to nuclear arms competition.

In September 1996, the CTBT was opened for signature and the United States was the first nation to sign the Treaty, which “prohibits any nuclear weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion” and establishes a global monitoring network, as well as the option of short-notice, on-site inspections that improve capabilities to detect and deter cheating.

Support for the Treaty has grown as an increasing number of experts and military professionals have come to realize that an end to testing is the only way to prevent other countries from obtaining the ability to develop weapons that can hit our shores. To date, the CTBT has been signed by 182 nations, including Russia, China, Great Britain and France, and ratified by 150, including all of the other NATO allies except the United States. The CTBT’s entry into force awaits ratification by nine key countries, including the United States. Since 1999, there have been significant advances in the Stockpile Stewardship Program and nuclear test monitoring that should address earlier concerns of many Senators about the Treaty.

To Learn More About the CTBT:

• CFR – Perry Scowcroft Report 2009
• ACA Briefing Book
• NAS Report on CTBT 2002
• NAS Report on CTBT (2010 forthcoming)
• Shalikashvili Report 2001
• CRS Report (1/6/2010)