Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

The NPT is the basis for many United Nations Security Council resolutions. Through Resolution 1887? adopted by the Security Council on 24 September 2009, the international community reaffirmed its commitment to “seek a safer world for all and to create the conditions for a world without nuclear weapons, in accordance with the goals of the NPT, in a way that promotes international stability, and based on the principle of undiminished security for all”.

An essential instrument for our collective security

More than 50 years after its entry into force, the NPT remains one of the foundations of our collective security system and an irreplaceable mechanism maintaining international peace and security. France promotes the preservation and universality of the NPT.

The NPT was opened for signature on 1 July 1968 and entered into force on 5 March 1970. The United States, the United Kingdom and Russia are depository States. France announced its accession to the NPT in the framework of a Comprehensive Arms Control and Disarmament Plan submitted by the President of the Republic before the United Nations on 3 June 1991. It acceded to the Treaty on 2 August 1992, but had already been complying with the provisions since 1968.

“France for its part (…) will behave in the future in this field exactly as the States complying with the Treaty. There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind on that score.”

Statement by the Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations on 12 June 1968

Today the NPT is close to becoming a universal treaty since only four States are not parties to it: India, Israel, Pakistan and South Sudan. In January 2003, North Korea announced its withdrawal from the Treaty. This withdrawal is not recognized by France.

The Treaty makes a distinction between five Nuclear-Weapon States which tested nuclear weapons prior to 1967 (France, United States, Russia, United Kingdom, China) and Non-Nuclear-Weapon States (all other States).

TNP is founded on three pillars:

• nuclear disarmament commitments: all States undertake to pursue negotiations in good faith on measures relating to nuclear disarmament, and on a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control (Article VI).
• nuclear non-proliferation commitments: Nuclear-Weapon States undertake not to transfer nuclear weapons to any recipient whatsoever; Non-Nuclear-Weapon States undertake not to acquire nuclear weapons and to place all their nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards (Articles I, II et III);
• Cooperation commitments on peaceful uses of nuclear energy and nuclear applications (Article IV and V).

The NPT, initially concluded for a period of 25 years, was extended indefinitely in 1995. A review process described in Article VIII of the Treaty provides for the holding of conferences every five years. These Review Conferences are prepared during three annual Preparatory Committees, held over the three years prior to the conference. France expressed its firm commitment to the indefinite and unconditional extension of the Treaty at the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference.

France’s action

As a Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council and an NPT Nuclear-Weapon State, France bears special responsibilities with a view to preserving and strengthening international peace and security. In this regard, France relies on the United Nations Charter and recognizes the right to both individual and collective self-defence, which is enshrined in the former. In the exercise of that right, France promotes those options most conducive to the strengthening of international security and stability.

France acts within a multilateral framework and is guided by steadfast principles: working for a safer world, developing friendly relations between States, preventing threats to peace, respecting the right to self-defence, refusing the arms race and moving towards general and complete disarmament based on the principle of undiminished security for all.

• France is resolutely committed to effective nuclear disarmament, and effective nuclear disarmament process, whose next logical stages are: the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the adoption of a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT);
• France is actively fighting proliferation by responding resolutely to proliferation crises, by promoting the strengthening of the international non-proliferation regime, and by preventing and curbing proliferating trafficking and activities supporting this trafficking;
• France supports responsible and sustainable development of civil nuclear energy under optimal conditions of safety, security, non-proliferation and environmental protection.