Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is an international agreement aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons. It was opened for signature in 1968 and has three main goals: to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and nuclear weapon technology, to promote peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and to pursue nuclear disarmament. The treaty distinguishes between nuclear-weapon states (those that tested nuclear weapons before 1967) and non-nuclear weapon states. Today, it is a cornerstone of global nuclear security, with 191 countries as signatories, although a few, like India and Pakistan, remain outside the agreement.