ABSTRACT
Forty years ago, when the five major powers (P-5) had acquired nuclear weapons and others were expected to do the same, nuclear and non-nuclearweapon states joined hands to bring proliferation to a halt. Signed in 1968 and entering into force in 1970, the nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) became the backbone of international non-proliferation efforts. Gradually, a variety of measures were added to enhance its effectiveness – arms control agreements, nuclear weapon-free zones, security assurances for non-nuclear-weapon states (NNWS), full-scope safeguards, rules of international nuclear commerce and national export control regulations – turning it into an international regime with much in-built redundancy and resilience to pressure. Once in a while, the superpowers used their leverage to keep clients in the non-proliferation fold, sustaining the objectives of the regime. Common ground was established.
