Ydinsulkusopimus

Ydinsulkusopimus, known in English as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), is an international agreement designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, to promote peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to pursue nuclear disarmament. It was opened for signature on July 1, 1968, and entered into force on March 5, 1970.

The treaty rests on three pillars: non-proliferation, disarmament, and the right to peaceful use of nuclear technology. Non-nuclear-weapon states commit not to acquire or develop nuclear weapons, while recognized nuclear-weapon states undertake to pursue disarmament in good faith and to cooperate with verification mechanisms. Verification is carried out in part through IAEA safeguards to ensure civilian nuclear programs are not diverted to weapons purposes. Article IV guarantees the right of all parties to explore and use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, subject to safeguards.

As of 2024, 191 states are party to the NPT. The five states widely acknowledged as nuclear-weapon states under the treaty are the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and China. Four UN member states are not party to the treaty: India, Israel, Pakistan, and North Korea, which withdrew from the treaty in 2003. In 1995, the treaty was extended indefinitely, reinforcing its central role in the global non-proliferation regime. The NPT remains a foundational framework for international diplomacy on nuclear issues, balancing non-proliferation with the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and advancing prospects for future disarmament.