India and the NPT
by Leonard Weiss [contact information]
National Advisory Board member Leonard Weiss publishes an article on India and the forthcoming 2010 Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in the March 2010 edition of Strategic Analysis.
Abstract: India's nuclear development has been accompanied by a dual track strategy of developing and building weapons while criticising the non-proliferation regime as discriminatory and simultaneously making public statements and proposals in favour of nuclear disarmament. But with international progress like on aspects of nuclear disarmament over the next few months, India will be in the spotlight at the forthcoming 2010 Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference to help move the disarmament and non-proliferation agenda forward. This article proposes that India meet this challenge by announcing specific commitments on permanently ending nuclear testing and plutonium production for weapons by a set date. In the course of reaching this conclusion, the article traces the history of India's role in the development of the international non-proliferation regime, its proposals on disarmament, and also its relationship with the United States with respect to India's nuclear development and ambitions.
Read the full article here
Leonard Weiss
Leonard Weiss is a former full professor of applied mathematics and engineering, and was for many years the staff director of a standing US Senate committee where he produced legislation and directed investigations in the areas of energy, nuclear nonproliferation, and government management. He was the chief architect of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Act of 1978. He is currently an affiliate of the Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University, and writes frequently on public policy issues.