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STATUS OF CTBT RATIFICATION The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) has been signed by 161 states, including all five nuclear-weapon states. Seventy-six states have ratified the Treaty. France, the Russian Federation and the UK are the only nuclear-weapon states to have completed ratification. Thus far, 31 of the required 44 states which took part in negotiating the CTBT, and that are identified as having nuclear capability, have ratified it. The Treaty will enter into force 180 days after it has been ratified by the 44 states. Further details appear below. This page was last updated on 14 June 2001. United States
Ratification and the 1999 Vote In the US, Treaty ratification requires a two-thirds majority in the Senate (i.e. at least 67 out of 100 Senators must vote in favor). President Bill Clinton transmitted the text of the CTBT, along with an article-by-article analysis of the Treaty, to the Senate for consideration on 23 September 1997. In October 1997 and 1998 Congressional testimony on the CTBT and maintenance of the US nuclear stockpile was given before the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee and the Senate Committee on Armed Services. These focused on the US ability to maintain its nuclear arsenal under the Treaty and to monitor nuclear testing by other countries. The Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, International Security, Proliferation and Federal Services held hearings in March 1998 on the Condition of the US Nuclear Stockpile, which covered the CTBT. John Holum, Acting Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs testified on behalf of the Administration that the CTBT is effectively verifiable, improves monitoring capabilities, and enhances nonproliferation efforts. In addition, a number of Senators have made individual statements in support of the CTBT. CTBT ratification in the US has been difficult. Republicans hold a majority in the Senate. Using the South Asian nuclear tests as reason for inaction, Senator Helms and Majority Leader Trent Lott have refused to hold hearings or schedule a floor vote on Treaty ratification. Topical issues in the US debate on CTBT include: the capabilities of the US Stockpile Stewardship program; the question of whether the US weapons laboratories require additional funding and the construction of new facilities; and the reliability with which the Treaty can be verified. Senate Republicans decided to surprise CTBT supporters in Fall 1999 with a quick vote on ratification in order to stymie Clinton Administration efforts to rally support around the Treaty with a short deadline. Their efforts were effective. On October 13, 1999, the U.S. Senate voted 51-48 against the CTBT, with votes falling along party lines, with only 12 days to debate the Treaty on the floor of the Senate. [Read more about the 1999 Senate Vote] The Bush Administration and Treaty Ratification In his campaign statements in 2000 and after his January 20, 2001 inauguration, President Bush has made clear that ratifying the CTBT is not a priority for his administration. He noted in a response to a survey by the Arms Control Association of presidential candidate views on arms control issues that the CTBT is unverifiable, unenforceable, and would threaten the maintenance of the U.S. arsenal. He asserted, “We can fight the spread of nuclear weapons, but we cannot wish them away with unwise treaties.” The administration’s policy was elucidated further during Secretary of State Colin Powell’s January 2001 confirmation hearings before Congress, when he said, “We will not be asking for the Congress to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in this next session.” Conventional wisdom in Washington notes that while the administration will not resubmit the CTBT for ratification in the next two years, a shift in partisan alliances after midterm elections in November 2002 may inspire a reassessment of the treaty’s viability and possible ratification. The report of the comprehensive review of the CTBT by former General John M. Shalikashvili also spurred further congressional interest in taking up the issue once again. While the current President Bush’s administration upholds the testing moratorium put in place in 1992 by the administration of his father, President George H.W. Bush, this should not act as a substitute for ratification of the Treaty. As Shalikashvili’s report emphasized, “A prolonged moratorium would do less damage to U.S. non-proliferation objectives and diplomatic standing than would a resumption of nuclear testing, but most of the benefits that the Test Ban Treaty can provide would be lessened or lost without ratification.” In upholding its commitment to the NPT, ratification of the CTBT must take place in an expeditious manner. BASIC is a member of the Coalition to Reduce Nuclear Dangers, a coalition of US NGOs working together on nuclear arms control, including the CTBT. For further information visit the Coalition’s page on the CTBT. US Sources and Information on CTBT Ratification
The UK, with France, were the first of the nuclear-weapon states to ratify the CTBT on 6 April 1998. Foreign Secretary Robin Cook stated that ratification of the CTBT signaled Britain's "commitment to the goal of a nuclear weapons free world." The Nuclear Explosions Act, which became UK law on 18 March 1998, provided the legal framework for inspections under the terms of the Treaty and allowed the UK to ratify the CTBT. Upon the Treaty's entry into force, each State Party to the Treaty is required to set up a National Authority to be the focal point of operation within its territory. For the UK, this will be located in the Ministry of Defense.
France jointly ratified the CTBT with the UK on 6 April 1998.
For the full text of Chirac’s statement and Jospin’s statement visit the French Ministere des Affairs Etrangere. The Russian Duma (the lower House of the Russian parliament) submitted its instruments of ratification in June 2000. Some observers viewed the Duma's action, in which they also ratified the START II agreement, took place on the eve of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty meetings as a direct challenge to the United States.
China has signed but not ratified the CTBT. According to a Kyodo News Service report from 3 March 1999, China informed the Japanese government that it intended to ratify the treaty "soon." No other reports have been seen. The Chinese government has advocated "comprehensive prohibition and complete destruction of nuclear weapons" and has pledged not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states.
The following 76 states have ratified the CTBT. 13 states, including China, India, Pakistan, and the United States, must ratify before the Treaty can enter into force. Bold indicates those states whose ratification is required for entry into force:
[Chart courtesy of the CTBT Organization site] The UN is the depositary for states ratifying the CTBT. For further information on the Treaty and its signatories, visit the UN Treaty Department or the CTBT Organization Preparatory Commission website. |
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