Council on Foreign Relations | Tools of Nonproliferation

Nuclear 7

Q1. What is the core reason policymakers want to limit the number of countries with nuclear weapons?
A) To keep nuclear technology expensive
B) To prevent global dominance by one country
C) More nuclear states = higher risk of use in war or terrorism
D) To protect uranium markets

C

Q2. What major diplomatic achievement is highlighted as a tool of nonproliferation?
A) SALT II
B) The ABM Treaty
C) The Paris Climate Agreement
D) The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT)

D

Q3. What is a major weakness of the NPT?
A) It only applies to NATO members
B) It is voluntary and countries can withdraw
C) It bans civilian nuclear power
D) It requires weapons states to disarm immediately

B

Q4. Security guarantees work by:
A) Paying countries not to develop nuclear programs
B) Promising military protection so allies don’t feel pressured to build nukes
C) Forcing allies to host U.S. nuclear weapons
D) Replacing nuclear weapons with cyber tools

B

Q5. Which two countries’ nuclear programs were reportedly disrupted by cyber tools?
A) France and China
B) India and Pakistan
C) Iran and North Korea
D) Egypt and Turkey

C

Q6. Which country used military force to destroy nuclear facilities in Iraq and Syria?
A) United States
B) Russia
C) Iran
D) Israel

D

Q7. A major criticism of sanctions as a nonproliferation tool is that:
A) They work too quickly
B) They encourage nuclear development
C) They rarely make countries act against perceived self-interest
D) They can only be applied by the UN

C

Q1. What is the central weakness of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT)?

Answer: It’s voluntary — meaning countries can withdraw (as North Korea did), and it relies heavily on trust and transparency, making it essentially an honor system.

Q2. How do security guarantees help prevent nuclear proliferation?

Answer: By assuring allies that the United States will defend them, reducing their incentive to develop their own nuclear arsenals.

Q3. Why might sanctions fail to stop nuclear development?

Answer: Because countries may prioritize national security or regime survival over economic pain, and thus remain willing to endure heavy sanctions to continue their programs.

Q4. What risk comes with using military force against nuclear sites?

Answer: Retaliation — potentially even with the very nuclear weapons the strike was meant to eliminate. Also, nuclear sites are difficult to locate and destroy.

Q5. Since the NPT was enacted, what mixed results have been observed?

Answer: Four countries acquired nuclear weapons, some nations gave them up, and many others chose not to build them despite having the capability.

Q1. The NPT requires all nuclear-armed countries to immediately dismantle their arsenals.

False

Q2. Countries can legally withdraw from the NPT.

True

Q3. Sanctions have always been effective in forcing countries to abandon nuclear programs.

False

Q4. Cyber tools have been used to disrupt nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea.

True

Q5. Military strikes on nuclear facilities carry a risk of retaliation.

True

Q6. Security guarantees can discourage allies from wanting their own nuclear weapons.

True

Q7. The danger of nuclear proliferation remains even decades after the NPT.

True