Nuclear Weapons

Nuclear Weapons

Part of: Prelims and GS-II – International Relations

Context  Five global nuclear powers pledged to prevent atomic weapons spreading and to avoid nuclear conflict, in a rare joint statement ahead of a review of a key nuclear treaty later this year.

Key takeaways 

• The permanent UN Security Council members – China, France, Russia, the U.K. and U.S have said that they strongly believed that the further spread of such weapons must be prevented.
• The statement was issued after the latest review of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) which first came into force in 1970. 
• The statement comes as tensions between Russia and the United States have reached heights rarely seen since the Cold War over a troop build-up by Moscow close to the Ukrainian border.
• That has raised fears that Russia is planning a new attack on its pro-Western neighbour.
• The rise of China meanwhile has also raised concerns that tensions with USA could lead to conflict, notably over the island of Taiwan.