Which international treaty aims to restrict the proliferation of nuclear weapons?

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is designed specifically to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and promote disarmament and the peaceful use of nuclear energy. It was opened for signature in 1968 and has become one of the most widely adhered to arms control agreements in history, with nearly 200 parties.

The NPT establishes a framework that divides the world into nuclear-armed states and non-nuclear-armed states, encouraging the latter not to pursue nuclear weapons in exchange for the promise of assistance in developing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and a commitment from nuclear states to engage in disarmament efforts. This dual focus makes the NPT a cornerstone of global efforts to manage nuclear capabilities and mitigate the dangers associated with nuclear proliferation.

While the other treaties listed also play significant roles in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation efforts, they do not specifically focus on restricting the proliferation of nuclear weapons to the same extent as the NPT. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty aims to ban nuclear testing entirely, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons seeks to eliminate nuclear weapons entirely, and the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty focuses on reducing the number of nuclear weapons rather than preventing their spread. Hence, the NPT is