The Flawed Test Ban Treaty

Publication Date: March 1984

Publisher: Heritage Foundation (Washington, D.C.)

Author(s): Brian Green

Research Area: International relations

Keywords: National security

Type: Report

Abstract:

The TTBT is not now verifiable and cannot be made verifiable by any procedure apparently acceptable to Moscow. The Soviets have rejected all negotiations concerning improved verification. The United States, moreover, has sound national security reasons for not ratifying the TTBT. There is substantial evidence that the Soviet Union is cheating. The U.S. has clear military requirements for developing and testing weapons above 150 kilotons. If the current situation persists--in which the Soviets are probably testing at two to three times the Treaty limit--the U.S. will continue to fall behind the Soviet Union in strategic military power.