CTBT is an important step in the campaign for nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation. The benefits of CTBT are two fold. For nations that do not currently have nuclear capabilities, the treaty makes it unlikely that they will put the time, money, and effort into developing a nuclear weapons program that cannot be tested. Testing is an integral part of the nuclear weapons development process. Without testing, a nation is unable to determine whether the weapons actually work – a huge deterrent to developing nuclear weapons. Even if a nation receives secret information regarding nuclear weapons (as is suspected in China), the inability to test any weapon produced from this information essentially renders the weapon useless. The treaty has the potential to reduce proliferation attempts in the Middle East, which could contribute to increased regional stability.

For nations that already have nuclear weapons, CTBT inhibits the development of any new weapons. Although this may not sound like much at first, as some of the nuclear states already have enormous stockpiles of weapons, there is actually a huge benefit. By banning nuclear tests, nuclear states will be unable to develop advanced technology for new types of nuclear weapons. This reduces the possibility of a 21st century nuclear arms race between the U.S. and Russia, as well as potentially eliminating the South Asia arms race between India and Pakistan. Without the threat of arms races and advanced technology, U.S. security actually increases.

One of the key points of the CTBT is that current capable nuclear states must ratify the treaty before it can enter into force. The treaty is aimed both at non-nuclear states and states that may be attempting to increase their nuclear arsenal. Although the treaty does not take the issue of nuclear weapons completely off the table, it should enhance the comfort of non-nuclear states to know that it is unlikely that nuclear states will continue to build their nuclear arsenals. Movement by nuclear states towards nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament are positive steps towards a world free from nuclear weapons.

Click here to go to the UN website on Peace and Security through Disarmament for additional information on the CTBT.

Take Action Now: Write your Congressmen today expressing your concern over nuclear proliferation and encouraging immediate ratification of the CTBT. The following letter can be used for the President, VP, Senators and Representatives.

In letters to the President of the U.S., use “President” for the Title and address as “Mr. President”. For former presidents, use “The Honorable” as title and address as “President “. For Vice President, use “Vice President” for Title and address as “Mr. “. The address for the White House can be found at www.whitehouse.gov/contact/.

In letters to U.S. Representatives, use “The Honorable” as Title, and address as “Mr.” or “Ms. “. Your state’s Representatives can be found at www.house.gov. You will need to input your zip code and possibly your four digit zip code extension, which you can find at zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp.

For Senators, use “The Honorable” as Title, and address as “Senator “. The contact information for your state’s Senators is located at www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm.

You can copy and paste the letter below.

[Date]
[Title][First Name] [Last Name]
[Address]
[City], [State] [Zip]

Dear [Prefix] [Last Name],

I am writing to you to express my concern over the fact that the United States has yet to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). Twelve years have passed since the introduction of this resolution into the General Assembly; however, the U.S. is one of the remaining nine annex states that have yet to ratify the treaty. The goal of nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament, as well as the security of the U.S., is seriously undermined by this treaty having yet to enter into force.

In the matter of nonproliferation and disarmament, the benefits of the treaty far outweigh the costs. CTBT encourages nonproliferation; if a nation is unable to test a weapon, this is a huge deterrent to actually using nuclear weapons. Even if a nation receives secret information and covertly develops a nuclear weapons program, without the benefit of testing, “the destructive power that is wielded by newly nuclear states” is significantly reduced. By reducing the ability of non-nuclear weapons states to develop testable nuclear weapons, the threat of nuclear proliferation is greatly reduced, thus increasing the security of the U.S.

Global security is also enhanced by reducing the ability of nuclear weapons states to develop and test new and more advanced nuclear weapons. The Federation of American Scientists notes several areas of nonproliferation that will benefit once the CTBT enters into force. First is the elimination of the South Asian arms race. Both India and Pakistan have expressed the desire to ratify and adhere to this treaty, which cannot enter into force without ratification by the U.S. By ratifying this treaty, the U.S. is also able to exert further pressure on India and Pakistan to adhere to the treaty. Second, the inability to test new nuclear weapons technology decreases the potential for a renewed U.S. – Russian arms race. Finally, proliferation will reduced in the Middle East, which has the potential to make the region more stable. Instability and nuclear proliferation in the Middle East are important security concerns for the U.S.

I strongly urge you to call for the immediate ratification of the CTBT.