Fixing a Broken NPT Review Process

Speaker: Dr. Mark Goodman, Non-Resident Fellow, Center for Nonproliferation Studies

The Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) has been remarkably successful at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and reducing the dangers of nuclear war. By contrast, recent NPT Review Conferences have often ended in disappointment or even discord. What explains this mixed record? Does it mean that the NPT itself is in danger? Can it be fixed? Dr. Goodman, a longtime U.S. government practitioner of NPT diplomacy, will describe his experience with the NPT review process, why it has fallen short, and how it could be designed better to fulfill its purposes of strengthening the nonproliferation regime and providing accountability for states’ commitments to nonproliferation, disarmament, and peaceful uses of nuclear energy.