Discussions on a fissile material cutoff began in 1946 and gained momentum in the 1990s. The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution in 1993 calling for a verifiable treaty. Despite various efforts and proposals, including a draft treaty by the George W. Bush administration in 2006 and support from President Obama in 2009, negotiations stalled, primarily due to opposition from Pakistan and procedural issues in the Conference on Disarmament (CD).
The FM(C)T seeks to ban the production of fissile materials, such as highly enriched uranium (HEU) and plutonium, which are essential for nuclear weapons. The treaty is seen as a crucial step towards nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. As of early 2022, the global stockpile of HEU was approximately 1,250 tons, with the majority held by nuclear-armed states. The global stockpile of separated plutonium was around 550 tons. The key challenges include: verification, the inclusion of existing civilian stocks, and differing national interests.
Specific Country Perspectives
China: Links its support for the FM(C)T to cooperation on a treaty preventing an arms race in outer space (PAROS). China is concerned about transparency and restrictions on existing stocks and insists FM(C)T negotiations occur only in the CD, where it has veto power.
Israel: Strongly opposes the FM(C)T, arguing it would not adequately safeguard against Iranian nuclear development. Israel believes nuclear disarmament should be part of a broader regional peace strategy.
North Korea: Despite initially engaging in FMCT discussions, North Korea has increased plutonium production and uranium enrichment amid international criticism.
Russia: Supports a verifiable ban on fissile material production for weapons, provided all states with enrichment capabilities, including India, Israel, North Korea, and Pakistan, are signatories.
Pakistan: Opposes the FM(C)T, citing concerns over India’s fissile material stockpile. Pakistan demands a verifiable treaty addressing past, present, and future production and has blocked negotiations in the CD.
