Verifying the CTBT—A State Perspective

Abstract

How can countries verify compliance with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and detect and deter violations? The key conclusions in this book hinge on the fact that verification of compliance and non-compliance with the CTBT rests with the states parties. Verification is essentially a political process based on a broad range of verification tools that have improved over the last decade. The CTBT identifies three steps in the verification procedure: monitoring for evidence of clandestine tests, engaging in a consultation and clarification process to resolve issues of concern, and requesting and conducting on-site inspections (OSIs) to clarify whether a nuclear explosion has been conducted in violation of the treaty and to gather facts that might help to identify the possible violator. Should a clandestine activity be identified, the actions to be taken will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.