10 June 2013

Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty: Background and Current Developments

This report discusses the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), rejected by the US Senate in 1999 and since taken up by the Obama Administration, with a stated goal of pursuing US ratification. The Administration has however mainly focused on securing Senate consent to ratify the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START). No hearings on the CTBT were held in the 111th or 112th Congress. As of June 2013, 183 states had signed the CTBT and 159, including Russia, had ratified it. However, entry into force requires ratification by 44 states specified in the treaty, of which 41 had signed the treaty and 36 had ratified. This updated report addresses the 2013 North Korean nuclear tests, the CTBT negotiations and stockpile stewardship issues.

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