History of the CTBT

Arms control advocates had campaigned for the adoption of a treaty banning all nuclear
explosions since the early 1950s, when public concern was aroused as a result of radioactive fall-
out from atmospheric nuclear tests and the escalating arms race.

On Monday 16th July 1945, the US Army conducted the first nuclear test explosion in the New
Mexico desert. Three weeks later, the US drops two atomic bombs in Japan (Hiroshima and
Nagasaki).

Saturday 15th June 1945, the US draws up the Baruch plan and presents it to the United Nations
Atomic Energy Commission (UNEAC). The plan proposed to:

1. extend between all countries the exchange of basic scientific information for peaceful
ends;
2. implement control of nuclear power to the extent necessary to ensure its use only for
peaceful purposes;
3. eliminate from national armaments atomic weapons and all other major weapons
adaptable to mass destruction; and
4. establish effective safeguards by way of inspection and other means to protect
complying States against the hazards of violations and evasions

This proposal was met with stiff resistance from the USSR and the US rejected a Soviet
counterproposal for a ban on all nuclear weapons. The Soviets rejected this plan on the grounds
that the United Nations was dominated by the United States and its allies in Western Europe, and
could therefore not be trusted to exercise authority over atomic weaponry in an evenhanded
manner. The USSR insisted that America eliminate its own nuclear weapons before considering
proposals for a system of controls and inspections. It’s important to note that during this period,
the USSR was working on its own nuclear program and the US was still carry on with its weapon
development and production. On Monday August 29, 1949, the Soviet Union conducts its first
nuclear test explosion, accelerating the nuclear arms race. The UK conducted its first nuclear test
on Friday 3rd October 1952 the UK conducted its first nuclear test in Western Australia.
The then Indian Premier, Jawaharlal Nehru in a speech to the Lok Sabha (lower house) that an
immediate standstill agreement on hydrogen and other atomic explosions should be negotiated
among major nations. This however proved difficult as the cold war grew in stature. The ability
to verify compliance during this period was also put into question. By 1962, the Soviet Union
explodes a total of 142 atmospheric nuclear tests. The US on the other hand has conducted 193
atmospheric tests. The Lucky Dragon Incident of 1954 drags Japan into the anti-nuclear
sentiments witnessed by the formation of the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen
Bombs in 1955.

Partial Test Ban Treaty

In 1958, the USSR unilaterally decides to stop conducting test blasts. Meanwhile in Europe, the
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament galvanizes support for talks on a test moratorium and test
bans. Under Eisenhower and Khrushchev move closer to achieving a comprehensive nuclear test
ban agreement but relations after an American U-2 spy plane is shot over USSR airspace. This
incident and the Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink of all out nuclear war. The
Eighteen Nation Committee on Disarmament (ENDC) is established on March 1962. After
concerted effort by the UK, US and the USSR the Partial Test Ban Treaty is officially signed by
the UK, US and the USSR. The treaty banned nuclear testing underwater, the atmosphere and
outer space; underground testing is still permissible but a step in the right direction nonetheless.
In 1968, the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty is adopted by some member states. The main aim
of the treaty was to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote
cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to further the goal of achieving nuclear
disarmament and general and complete disarmament. Between 1974 and 1976, the US and the
USSR signed the Threshold Test Ban and the Peaceful Nuclear Explosions treaties with the main
aim of limiting military and non-military underground tests to yields below 150 kilotons.
Locally, coalitions such as the U.S Comprehensive Test Ban Coalition pile pressure on congress
to make strides towards testing, production and deployment of nuclear weapons.

After the breakup of the USSR, President Yeltsin assumes Presidency of Russia and extends the
test moratorium. In the same year (1992), President Mitterand of France announces a unilateral
nuclear testing moratorium. On Wednesday 23rd September 1992, the US carries out its last
nuclear test, codename the Divider.

In August 1993, the Conference on Disarmament gives its Ad-hoc on Nuclear Test Ban a
mandate to begin negotiations on a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Negotiations on the same
begin in 1994 in Geneva.