Re-examining the Impact of the Nuclear Renaissance on Nonproliferation

Challenges to the nonproliferation regime may result from the nuclear renaissance and the increase in sales of reactors and fuels that it will likely entail. One challenge that may arise is that of a potential conflict of interest between states with dual roles as nuclear suppliers, and as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. The UNSC is the fundamental enforcement mechanism of the nonproliferation regime. If a State is found to be in breach of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), the case will be brought before the UNSC. If a problem arises resulting from a state that is a supplier, and that state sits on the UNSC, ensuring that fundamental actions are taken involving the supplier state may be complicated and challenging. The UNSC permanent members are deeply involved in the nuclear renaissance. Will the nuclear renaissance provide additional risks for preventing the UNSC’s immediate fundamental actions? If so, how should we control these additional risks? One example of erosion of the nonproliferation norm in the face of the nuclear renaissance and its market-driven demands is the U.S.-India nuclear agreement. The U.S. signed the 123 Agreement with India following India’s commitment to support nonproliferation efforts. As nuclear energy continues to spread to emerging countries, the other permanent members of the UNSC, such as Russia and China, may face similar challenges. The international community should work to prevent situations in which national security and national politics are treated as priorities over the international norm of nonproliferation. This paper will further explore these dynamics.