Negative Security Assurances in the Protocols Additional to the Treaties Establishing Nuclear Weapon-Free Zones

Abstract:     
This work examines the security assurances provided by the nuclear weapon states not to use nuclear weapons against states parties to the treaties establishing nuclear weapon-free zones. These negative assurances are contained in Protocols additional to the main treaties and they are not identical in all five treaties (Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok, Pelindaba, Semipalatinsk). The nuclear weapon states have also issued declarations when signing and/or ratifying the Protocols, the nature of which is controversial. These declarations are discussed in order to verify how they affect the scope of the negative security assurances.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 25

Keywords: nuclear weapons, nuclear proliferation, nuclear weapon-free zones, negative security assurances, Treaty of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga Treaty, Pelindaba Treaty, Bangkok Treaty, Semipalatinsk Treaty

JEL Classification: K33

Accepted Paper Series