From Wikipedia
"Five states are permitted by the NPT to own nuclear weapons: France (signed 1992), the People's Republic of China (1992), the Soviet Union (1968; obligations and rights now buttumed by Russia), the United Kingdom (1968), and the United States (1968). These were the only states possessing such weapons at the time the treaty was opened to signature, and are also the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council."
There's another thing about these particular five states that Wikipedia forbears to point out. They are all imperialist powers. At one time or another, in one way or another they have all bullied or usurped other countries. This treaty is an example of a cooperative bullying tactic waged against non-nuclear-weapons states - it in no way places any pressure on those countries who have possessed nuclear weapons since the 50s and 60s to reduce their reliance on the 'plant'.
The articles-rules of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty perfectly express my argument.
Rule No 1 restricts the five in aiding non-NWS parties to obtain weapons. At least three of the five have broken this particular rule. Britain supplied heavy water To Israel, Russia and China have helped countries in their nuclear ambitions.
Rule No 2 forbids non-NWS to receive or manufacture nuclear weapons.
Rule No 3 reinforces No 2 by restricting non-NWS states to nuclear development for peaceful purposes only.
Rule No 4 is the most flagrantly disregarded one of all. I quote "The states undertake to negotiate toward general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control."
No 5 gives the right to any one of the five to withdraw from the Treaty giving three months notice. It doesn't specify what withdrawal would mean - I don't blame the framers of the treaty. It doesn't bear thinking about.
Most countries signed the treaty. Iran signed it but North Korea didn't, no doubt because it was still in a state of war with the USA. Pakistan, India, and Israel have since become part of the nuclear club.
China, as anticipated, is now leaning very hard on North Korea especially with regard to a projected nuclear test. At this very time Kim is getting his pants dusted in Beijing.
The USA is at the moment attempting to get UN approval for sanctions against Iran because they are quite obviously starting the process to manufacture their own nuclear weapon. No doubt the Americans will cite the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty that Iran signed whilst she was still ruled by the Shah. Americans cannot cite Pakistan, India or Israel for breaking the NNPT articles because they never signed the treaty. Instead they intend to arraign Iran because it was signed by a regime that was forcibly removed byt the Iranians.
Surely America and the other four possessors of nuclear weapons should be asked by other UN nations why they have not adhered to Article 4 of the Treaty and why instead of reducing their nuclear dependence they intend to strengthen it? The UK intends to spend a another off £20 billion on some sort of stupid weapon when the stupid weapon we have now becomes obsolete.
So we, what used to be called the big five, go on and on breaking the Nuclear Non Proliferation treaty Article 4 whilst we complain loudly about Iran breaking Articles 2 and 3 of that treaty. No wonder we are losing the moral high ground
