July 1, 1983
Fifteen years ago today, the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and 58 other
nations signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). This treaty, now
with 119 parties, has the widest adherence of any arms control treaty in history. Both NATO and
Warsaw Pact countries, nuclear-weapon states and nonnuclear-weapon states, developed and
developing countries, and countries from every region of the globe have committed themselves to
the NPT and its objectives.
Nuclear-weapon states party to this treaty have agreed not to assist nonnuclear-weapon states to
acquire nuclear explosives, and nonnuclear-weapon states have pledged not to acquire nuclear
explosives. These mutual pledges recognize that the further spread of nuclear weapons threatens
all nations.
The NPT also calls for parties to assist in the development of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy,
especially in nonnuclear-weapon states which are parties to the treaty. The peaceful uses of
nuclear energy are important to the well-being of many other peoples, and the United States takes
its obligations for cooperation in this area seriously. We have long been in the forefront of those
providing technical assistance and other cooperation in the nuclear field, and we are committed to
continuing such cooperation under adequate safeguards.
The United States also recognizes its obligation under the NPT to pursue negotiations in good
faith on effective measures relating to nuclear disarmament. This is an issue of major concern to
all countries. I am personally committed to take whatever steps are necessary to increase the
likelihood of real, substantive progress towards an agreement involving significant reductions in
U.S. and Soviet strategic nuclear arsenals to equal more stable levels and that would be in the
national security interests of both sides. The United States will also spare no effort to negotiate an
equitable and verifiable agreement on intermediate-range nuclear forces that would reduce the risk
of war in Europe and globally.
The United States played a major role in the negotiation of the NPT, and five U.S. Presidents
over its lifetime have strongly supported the treaty as a cornerstone of the international effort to
prevent the spread of nuclear explosives to additional countries. As we plan for the important
NPT Review Conference in 1985, the United States will continue to strive to strengthen the
viability of this treaty. I urge all countries that have not yet done so to join the growing consensus
against the spread of nuclear explosives by adhering to the NPT.
In July 1981 I outlined a policy to prevent the proliferation of nuclear explosives, and declared
that this issue was critical to future international peace and regional and global stability. But if we
are to succeed in halting the spread of nuclear weapons, the nations of the world must work
together. As I have announced on previous occasions, one key step would be for nuclear suppliers
to agree on requiring comprehensive safeguards as a condition for any significant new nuclear
supply commitment. This is not a policy that denies nuclear assistance, but rather one that
conditions assistance on a reasonable demonstration that a nonnuclear-weapon state's entire
program is dedicated to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. This demonstration has already been
made by the 116 nonnuclear-weapon states that are parties to the NPT. It is my hope that
agreement can be reached soon on this measure to strengthen the international nonproliferation
regime.
On this the 15th anniversary of the opening of the NPT for signature, all states should rededicate
themselves to achieving the purposes of this important treaty and to ensuring its continued
vitality. That is both our shared responsibility and a contribution to peace for future
generations.