Part 7/17:
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT): An Imperfect Pact
The NPT was designed as a strategic bargain: non-nuclear states commit not to develop nuclear weapons, while nuclear states agree to disarmament and share peaceful nuclear technology. Shea stresses that extended deterrence—where the US guarantees protection over allies like Japan, Germany, South Korea, and others—has been a pillar of stability. However, the treaty is imperfect, with notable exceptions like Israel, which maintains a policy of ambiguity, and other countries that have tested or developed nuclear weapons clandestinely.