Time to Reconsider the Test Ban Treaty

March 14, 2016

For nearly a quarter-century, a worldwide ban on nuclear explosive testing has been a key part of a comprehensive, effective U.S. nuclear nonproliferation and risk reduction strategy.

Following the end of Russian nuclear testing in 1990 and the last U.S. nuclear blast in 1992, France and China were pressured to follow suit, the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was negotiated, and the treaty was opened for signature on September 24, 1996.

President Bill Clinton launched a robust stockpile stewardship program to maintain the U.S. arsenal through non-explosive surveillance and simulation and was the first world leader to sign the CTBT. Four presidential administrations have determined that nuclear explosive testing is not necessary for U.S. security.

Today, it is clearly in the U.S. national interest to strengthen the legal and political barriers against nuclear testing by other states, which can be used to help them develop new types of nuclear weapons. It is also in our interest to improve global test monitoring capabilities to detect and deter clandestine nuclear explosions.

But twenty years after the CTBT was concluded, it has not yet entered into force.

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