Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)

24 September 1996 (opened for signature) · New York

Cold War & arms control

Background

Negotiated at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva. It can only come into force when 44 specific states with nuclear technology have ratified it; India, Pakistan and North Korea have not signed. A worldwide monitoring system run from Vienna detects nuclear tests.

Signed by

Open to all states

Why it matters

Bans all nuclear explosions, but has not entered into force because key states have not ratified it. Pakistan and India have not signed it.