Analysis: Symbolic disarmament step

Russia has already made deep nuclear cuts

By defence correspondent Jonathan Marcus

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is widely regarded as the cornerstone of efforts to secure a nuclear free world.

China is the only country that is thought to be building up its nuclear arsenal

That goal moved a significant step closer this week in New York with all five of the declared nuclear powers - Britain, France, China, Russia and the United States - publicly affirming their long term obligation to give up nuclear weapons.

But nobody should hold their breath.

There's no timetable for nuclear disarmament and nobody imagines that the world is going to be nuclear free any time soon.

Nuclear divide

Nevertheless, this is a very important symbolic step.

Perhaps the greatest problem faced by the non-proliferation regime has been the growing divide between the nuclear weapons haves and have-nots, and this week's outcome goes some way to bridging this gap.

The agreement

Moratorium on tests

Reduction of tactical weapons

Greater transparency

Uranium and plutonium off warheads

Implementation of Start II

Israel singled out

On the thorny issue of the non-declared nuclear weapons states, India, Pakistan and Israel - who are all thought to either have the bomb or to be quite capable of making it - this conference also found consensus.

It formally called on Israel to join the NPT regime and on India and Pakistan, despite their nuclear tests, to renounce nuclear weapons and come on board as non-nuclear states.

Cuts

In practical terms, of course, China is the only country that is thought to be building up its nuclear arsenal.

All the others - Russia and the United States in particular - have made deep cuts and more could be in prospect.

Early next month, the US and Russian presidents are due to meet for talks on a further round of strategic arms reductions.

But US plans to develop limited missile defences - strongly opposed by Moscow - suggest that the arms control agenda could be in for some bumpy times yet.