China
View country profileWhat has the NWS done so far (prior to the current Review Cycle)?
What is the NWS doing on this action in the current Review Cycle?
Sources
France
View country profileWhat has the NWS done so far (prior to the current Review Cycle)?
France has called for the universalisation of the CTBT at the highest level and in various forums, including at the Presidential level.
At the Article XIV Conference of the CTBT, the objective of entry into force has been recalled, including through ministerial statements.
What is the NWS doing on this action in the current Review Cycle?
The United Kingdom and France issued a joint statement on 25th Anniversary of their ratification of the CTBT. France deplored Russia's decision to "de-ratify" the CTBT.
Sources
Emmanuel Macron. Speech of the President of the Republic on the Defense and Deterrence Strategy. (Paris), 7 February 2020. https://www.elysee.fr/en/emmanuel-macron/2020/02/07/speech-of-the-president-of-the-republic-on-the-defense-and-deterrence-strategy
France Diplomacy. Jean-Yves Le Drian calls on States to sign the Comprehensive Nuclear‑Test‑Ban Treaty (New York), 23 September 2021. https://onu.delegfrance.org/jean-yves-le-drian-calls-on-states-to-sign-the-comprehensive-nuclear-test-ban
France Diplomacy. Draft Joint Statement by France and the United Kingdom, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of their ratification of the CTBT. 6 April 2023. https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/united-kingdom/news/article/draft-joint-statement-by-france-and-the-united-kingdom-on-the-occasion-of-the
France Diplomacy. Traité sur l’interdiction complète des essais nucléaires (TICE) – La France déplore la décision de la Russie de révoquer sa ratification du traité. [Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) – France deplores Russia's decision to revoke its ratification of the treaty] 2 November 2023. https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/politique-etrangere-de-la-france/securite-desarmement-et-non-proliferation/actualites-et-evenements-lies-a-la-securite-au-desarmement-et-a-la-non/2023/article/traite-sur-l-interdiction-complete-des-essais-nucleaires-tice-la-france-deplore
Russia
View country profileWhat has the NWS done so far (prior to the current Review Cycle)?
Russia reported that it stressed the importance of the universalization of the CTBT and called to sign/ratify the Treaty as soon as possible in bilateral contacts with States that have not yet joined the CTBT, including Annex 2 States. Russia also promoted the importance entry into force of the CTBT and the need for the further universalization of the Treaty in the United Nations and within other international fora as well as in contacts at the regional level.
Russia has consistently supported UN General Assembly resolutions in support of the CTBT.
Russia participated in all Conferences on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the CTBT held prior to the current Review Cycle
What is the NWS doing on this action in the current Review Cycle?
In November 2023 Russia has revoked its ratification of the CTBT. Russia continued to be a signatory to the CTBT and to participate in the work of the CTBTO.
Russia has reaffirmed its full commitment to the goals and objectives of the CTBT, as well as to efforts to ensure its entry into force in official statements.
Russia continued to stress the importance of a prompt entry into force of the CTBT and urged relevant countries to sign and/or ratify the Treaty.
Russia participated in the 13th Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the CTBT in 2023. However, Russia did not participate in the 14th Conference on Facilitating Entry into Force of the CTBT in 2025 citing disagreements over certain elements of the draft text of the final declaration.
Sources
National report of the Russian Federation, 2020 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (New York), 19 March 2021.
https://docs.un.org/en/NPT/CONF.2020/17/Rev.1
United Nations. Russian Federation: Withdrawal of the instrument of ratification, 2 November 2023
https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/CN/2023/CN.463.2023-Eng.pdf
Mikhail Ulyanov. Statement by Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the International Organizations in Vienna at the 65th session of the CTBTO Preparatory Commission, 10 November 2025.
https://viennamission.mid.ru/en/news/statement_by_permanent_representative_of_the_russian_federation_to_the_international_organizations_i_101125/
Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. “Activities undertaken by Signatory and Ratifying States under Measure (L) of the Final Declaration of the 2019 Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Treaty in the period June 2019 – May 2021”, 22 September 2021
https://www.ctbto.org/sites/default/files/Documents/CTBT-Art.XIV-2021-4.pdf
Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. “Activities undertaken by Signatory and Ratifying States under Measure (L) of the Final Declaration of the 2019 Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Treaty in the period June 2023 – May 2025”, 26 September 2025
https://www.ctbto.org/sites/default/files/2025-10/CTBT-Art.XIV-2025-4.pdf
United Kingdom
View country profileWhat has the NWS done so far (prior to the current Review Cycle)?
The UK signed the CTBT in 1996 and ratified it in 1998, being one of the first two nuclear-weapon states to do so alongside France, and has maintained a voluntary moratorium on nuclear test explosions since 1991. Throughout the prior cycle the UK provided political, technical and financial support to the CTBTO Preparatory Commission and consistently called on all Annex 2 states yet to ratify the Treaty to do so.
The UK has consistently voiced support for the CTBT “as a key element of the global disarmament and non-proliferation architecture” and CTBTO, to which it gives substantial political and technical support. In 2021, the UK and France issued a joint statement marking the 25th anniversary of the treaty, stating they reaffirm “their strong and constant support for the universalisation and the entry into force of the CTBT, with the aim to make legally binding the voluntary moratorium which is almost universally accepted.”
The UK also stated in 2021 that it is “one of the largest financial contributors to CTBTO, providing £4.5 million annually. We provide extensive technical and political support. We maintain the UK National Data Centre and host thirteen facilities, which support the International Monitoring System.”
What is the NWS doing on this action in the current Review Cycle?
The UK continued to lend full support over the current Review Cycle to the CTBT and called on all states yet to sign or ratify the CTBT to do so, through bilateral and multilateral channels.
Sources
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (2023). Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty 25th anniversary: UK and France statement. 6 April. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-france-statement-on-25th-anniversary-of-the-comprehensive-nuclear-test-ban-treaty
Foreign and Commonwealth Office (2014). The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s National Report Pursuant to Actions 5, 20, and 21 of the NPT Review Conference Final Document.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (2021). Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty 25th anniversary: UK and France statement. 6 April. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-france-statement-on-25th-anniversary-of-the-comprehensive-nuclear-test-ban-treaty.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (2021). Underlining our support for a world without nuclear weapons. Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the Security Council briefing on the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. 27 September. <https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/support-for-the-comprehensive-nuclear-test-ban-treaty>
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (2026). National report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland pursuant to actions 5, 20 and 21 of the action plan of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons for the eleventh Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty. <https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69df600a53469bbcdf408e8b/UK-National-Report-11th-Treaty-on-the-Non-Proliferation-of-Nuclear-Weapons-NPT-Review-Conference.pdf>
United States
View country profileWhat has the NWS done so far (prior to the current Review Cycle)?
The United States continued to abide by its nuclear testing moratorium following President Clinton’s signature of the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT); however, in 1999 the U.S. Senate soundly rejected to provide its advice and consent for ratification. The successful arguments against the treaty largely centred around a perceived lack of confidence in the continued safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile without the ability to conduct explosive tests. As a result of the non-ratification of the United States, among others, the CTBT did not enter into force during this period.
What is the NWS doing on this action in the current Review Cycle?
The United States has not ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
Sources
United States Senate. “Roll Call Vote 106th Congress – 1st Session.” 13 October 1999. https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1061/vote_106_1_00325.htm.
United States Senate. “Privilege Of The Floor (Executive Session);” Congressional Record Vol. 145, No. 136. 8 October 1999. https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/volume-145/issue-136/senate-section/article/S12264-1.