The Obligations of Parties: Reviews of Articles I and II

Abstract

Articles I and II of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) are at the core of the Treaty’s security benefits to its parties. Article I specifically obligates the nuclear-weapon states parties to the NPT not to transfer to any recipient nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices or control over such weapons or devices; and not in any way to assist, encourage, or induce any non-nuclear-weapon state to manufacture or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, or control over such devices. Article II, on the other hand, obligates the non-nuclear-weapon states parties not to receive the transfer of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices or control of such weapons or explosive devices either directly or indirectly; and not to manufacture or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices directly or indirectly.