Nuclear-weapon states (NWS) are disregarding political commitments accepted under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to “further diminish the role and significance of nuclear weapons in all military and security concepts, doctrines and policies” and increasing nuclear risks by boosting the salience of nuclear weapons.

The NPT is inclusive, nearly universal, and connects the disarmament and non-proliferation dimensions of the global nuclear order. These factors make it a good place to address nuclear weapons salience. In a polarised international environment, the NPT can also link up other contexts where nuclear weapons are discussed.

The ambition of efforts to reduce the salience of nuclear weapons will depend on the overall trajectory of international politics. But the growing role and significance of nuclear weapons is both the result and a driver of rivalry between the NWS.

A new policy brief from our “Protecting the Non-Proliferation Treaty” project, finds that:

• Under a dark sky for the NPT, where the international security environment further deteriorates, it will be important for NPT states parties to defend and strengthen the nuclear taboo in both language and action.
• Under a grey sky, where the global context remains similar to today, NPT states parties should act against a nuclear mission creep by initiating a series of dialogues, aimed at increasing transparency on nuclear doctrines and agreements.
• Under a blue sky, where international relations improve, NPT states parties should aim to endorse collective statements and agree on measures to limit and reduce the salience of nuclear weapons.

Read the policy brief here.

The European Leadership Network itself as an institution holds no formal policy positions. The opinions articulated in this policy brief represent the views of the author rather than the European Leadership Network or its members. The ELN aims to encourage debates that will help develop Europe’s capacity to address the pressing foreign, defence, and security policy challenges of our time, to further its charitable purposes.

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