The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (Counterproliferation Papers, Future Warfare Series, Number 54)

Since 1996, the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty CTBT has been open to states for signature with a goal of ending all nuclear testing. While it has had moderate success, several key states have not yet ratified it and brought it into force. To date, 181 countries have signed the treaty and 149 have ratified it, with ratification being the sticking point with China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, and the United States. If President Barack Obamas administration follows through with its stated goal of ratifying the CTBT, what are the pros, cons for U.S. national security, and specifically what are the associated impacts on the U.S. nuclear stockpile, its deterrence capabilities, and global nuclear arms control