The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, (NPT) is a multilateral treaty aimed to stop the spread of nuclear weapons, while ensuring access to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes that will be subject to international safeguards. The NPT consists of eleven articles, with a commitment by the nuclear weapon states to work in good faith to achieve universal nuclear disarmament, which is made in Article VI. At present, 189 countries are party to the treaty, which divides them into two categories – nuclear weapon states (NWS) and non-nuclear weapon states (NNWS). The NWS include states that had exploded a nuclear device before 1 January 1967, which includes the United States, Soviet Union (now Russia), United Kingdom, France and China. Only three states are non-signatories to the treaty including India, Israel and Pakistan, while DPRK withdrew from the treaty in 2003.

The NPT is considered the cornerstone of the global non-proliferation regime. Under the treaty, the NWS may retain their nuclear arsenals but are prohibited from transferring or assisting any NNWS from acquiring nuclear weapons. The NNWS are prohibited from building, acquiring or possessing nuclear weapons, but they can use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; and must accept full-scope safeguards on all their nuclear facilities to be administered by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The treaty opened for signature in 1968 and entered into force in 1970. Article VII (3) of the treaty required that “five years after the entry into force of this Treaty, a (review) conference of Parties to the Treaty shall be held in Geneva, Switzerland, in order to review the operation of this Treaty with a view to assuring that the purposes of the Preamble and the provisions of the Treaty are being realized.” In addition, Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) conferences, that are meant to lay the groundwork for the Review Conferences, are held in each of the three years leading up to the RevCon. Accordingly, the first NPT Review Conference (RevCon) was held in 1975 and subsequently one has been held every five years. Article X of the treaty further stipulated that twenty-five years after its entry into force, a conference would be held to determine the duration of the treaty. The Review and Extension Conference (1995) agreed to extend the treaty indefinitely.

The eighth NPT Review Conference will now be held from 3-28 May 2010 in New York. The purpose of this RevCon, like the earlier ones, is to review the implementation of the treaty. For the 2010 NPT RevCon, three PrepComs were held in Vienna (2007), Geneva (2008) and New York (2009). The working papers, statements, and reports tabled during the PrepComs are used as recommendations to be negotiated at the RevCon; where the state parties must reach consensus on a Final Declaration containing detailed language on the implementation of the various articles of the treaty.

The first RevCon was held in 1975 (Geneva, 5-30 May). Igan Thorsson (Sweden) was the conference President, and there were 91 states parties to the treaty present, who were able to  reach consensus on the final declaration urging the then NWS (United States, Soviet Union and United Kingdom) to comply with their disarmament obligations. The second RevCon was held in 1980 (Geneva, 11 August-7 September). Ismat Kittani (Iraq) was the conference President and there were 112 state parties to the treaty. The conference failed to reach a consensus on the final declaration. Their differences primarily revolved around the implementation of Article VI. The NNWS held that the NWS had not fulfilled their obligations to halt the arms race and progress towards achieving nuclear disarmament. The third RevCon was held in 1985 (Geneva, 27 August-21 September). There were 131 state parties to the treaty and Mohamed Shaker (Egypt) was the conference President. This RevCon was able to adopt a final declaration on establishing nuclear weapon free zones (NWFZ). There was concern over horizontal proliferation (Israel and South Africa) undermining the spirit of the treaty. The debate once again focused on the lack of progress in moving towards nuclear disarmament. Apropos, discussions were centered on a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

The fourth RevCon was held in 1990 (Geneva, 20 August-14 September). Oswaldo de Rivero (Peru) was the conference President.  140 state parties to the treaty were present. The RevCon failed to adopt a final declaration due to lack of progress in implementing  Article VI and  the CTBT, and disagreements over negative security assurances being provided to NNWS, who also expressed regret that commitments made to assisting their peaceful use of nuclear energy were not satisfactory. The fifth RevCon was the 1995 Review and Extension Conference (New York, 17 April-12 May). Jayantha Dhanapala (Sri Lanka) was the conference President with 178 states signatories to the treaty attending. This was the first post-Cold War conference after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. In addition, China and France joined the treaty as NWS taking their total number to five.  The state parties failed to reach a consensus on the final declaration; but agreed to extend the treaty indefinitely under Article X.2 of the treaty. This was done by two decisions on “Strengthening the Review Process for the Treaty,” and “Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament,” and one resolution on the Middle East.

The sixth RevCon was held in 2000 (New York, 24 April-19 May). Abdallah Baali (Algeria) was the conference President and 187 countries were present. This was the first review conference after 1985 to adopt a final document with Thirteen Practical Steps being adopted for taking systematic and progressive steps towards achieving nuclear disarmament. Concerns were expressed over North Korea's compliance with IAEA safeguards; India and Pakistan were urged to join the treaty after their nuclear tests conducted in 1998. 

The seventh RevCon was held in 2005 (New York, 2 May-27 May). Sergio Duarte (Brazil) was the conference President and 188 state parties attended. This RevCon failed to reach an agreement on the final declaration. The major issues in contention were Iran and North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme, nuclear terrorism, nuclear black marketing, negative security assurances, nuclear disarmament, and peaceful uses of nuclear energy.  The third PrepCom for the 2010 Review Conference was held in May 2009, but was unable to agree on substantive issues. However, with the revival in the global discourse on nuclear disarmament, combined with the groundwork done by the Obama administration, there is general optimism that the 2010 RevCon will salvage and strengthen the non-proliferation regime.