P-5 Nuclear Dialogue: Concept, Building Blocks, and Implementation

摘要

In April, 2009, President Barack Obama affirmed 'America's intention to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons' and stated his intention to organize a 'Global Summit on Nuclear Security' within the coming year. Less than a month earlier, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown called on the five nuclear-weapon states recognized by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), or the so-called P-5 countries, to play a leadership role in implementing the NPT's Article VI obligation to achieve nuclear disarmament. Prime Minister Brown's statement was preceded by other UK initiatives, including a proposal that the P-5 jointly explore the technical issues related to the abolition of nuclear weapons. Still earlier, in March, 2008, French President Nicolas Sarkozy called for the P-5 to agree on nuclear transparency measures. All of these statements take place against the backdrop of ongoing discussions among the P-5 on preparations for the 2010 NPT Review Conference as well as unprecedented global attention to the goal of nuclear abolition. The current moment in international affairs is characterized by a high degree of both nuclear anxiety and nuclear hope, particularly (but not exclusively) among the world's many non-nuclear countries. Nuclear anxiety reflects concern about the spread of nuclear capability to states and nonstate actors, uncertainties (including among the P-5) about the policies and postures of today's nuclear powers, questions on the part of the non-nuclear states about the commitment of the nuclear states to the NPT's Article VI goal, and concern among a few U.S. allies that renewed emphasis on disarmament could weaken extended deterrence.