Partial Test Ban Treaty

5 August 1963 · Moscow

Cold War & arms control

Background

Signed less than a year after the Cuban Missile Crisis, it was the first major arms-control treaty of the Cold War and reduced radioactive fallout. Testing moved underground. France and China did not join.

Signed by

USA, UK and USSR

Why it matters

Banned nuclear tests in the atmosphere, in outer space and under water, but not underground.