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TREATY ON THE PROHIBITION OF THE EMPLACEMENT OF NUCLEAR

WEAPONS AND OTHER WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION ON THE

SEA-BED AND THE OCEAN FLOOR AND IN THE SUBSOIL THEREOF



Objective



To exclude the sea-bed, the ocean floor and the subsoil 

thereof from the arms race as a step towards disarmament, 

the reduction of international tensions and the 

maintenance of world peace.



Provisions



(a) Parties undertake not to place on the sea-bed, on the 

ocean floor or in the subsoil thereof, nuclear weapons or 

other weapons of mass destruction, or structures for 

launching, storing, testing or using such weapons (art. 

1),



(b) Outer limit of the sea-bed zone to be the 12 mile 

limit referred to in the Convention on the Territorial 

Sea and the Contiguous Zone, 1958 (art. 2);



(c) Observers from any party may observe and verify the 

activities of any other party on the sea-bed. In case of 

doubt parties shall consult and co-operate to remove such 

doubt by means of inspection and any other agreed 

procedures. If a serious question still remains 

concerning fulfilment of the obligations under the 

Treaty, a party may refer the matter to the United 

Nations Security Council (art. 3).



Membership



Open to all States for signature subject to ratification, 

or for accession. Instruments of ratification or 

accession to be deposited with the depositary 

Governments.



Date of adoption              11. 2. 1971

Places of adoption            London, Moscow, Washington

Date of entry into force      18. 5. 1972

Languages                     Chinese, English, French,  

                                Russian, Spanish

Depositaries                  Union of Soviet Socialist 

                                Republics,United Kingdom 

                                of Great Britain and 

                                Northern Ireland, United 

                                States of America



      Parties and dates of entry into force



Afghanistan                  18. 5.1972

Argentina                    21. 3.1983

Australia                    23. 1.1973

Austria                      10. 8.1972

Belgium                      20.11.1972

Benin                        19. 6.1986

Botswana                     10.11.1972

Brazil                       10. 5.1988

Bulgaria                     18. 5.1972

Byelorussian Soviet

  Socialist Republic         18. 5.1972

Canada                       18. 5.1972

Cape Verde                   24.10.1979

Central African Republic      9. 7.1981

Congo                        23.10.1978

Cuba                          3. 6.1977

Cyprus                       18. 5.1972

Czechoslovakia               18. 5.1972

Democratic Yemen              1. 6.1979





                                                                

/. . .





                                                             

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Denmark                      18. 5.1972

Dominican Republic           18. 5.1972

Ethiopia                     12. 7.1977

Finland                      18. 5.1972

Germany, Democratic Republic 18. 5.1972

Germany, Federal Republic of 18.11.1975

Ghana                         9. 8.1972

Greece                       28. 5.1985

Guinea-Bissau                20. 8.1976

Hungary                      18. 5.1972

Iceland                      30. 5.1972

India                        20. 7.1973

Iran (Islamic Republic of)   18. 5.1972

Iraq                         13. 9.1972

Ireland                      18. 5.1972

Italy                         3. 9.1974

Ivory Coast                  18. 5.1972

Jamaica                      30. 7.1986

Japan                        18. 5.1972

Jordan                       18. 5.1972

Korea                        25. 6.1987

Lao People's Democratic Repub18. 5.1972

Luxembourg                   11.11.1982

Lesotho                       3. 4.1973

Malaysia                     21. 6.1972

Malta                        18. 5.1972

Mauritius                    18. 5.1972

Mexico                       23. 3.1984

Mongolia                     18. 5.1972

Morocco                      18. 5.1972

Nepal                        18. 5.1972

Netherlands*                 14. 1.1976

New Zealand                  18. 5.1972

Nicaragua                     7. 2.1973

Niger                        18. 5.1972

Norway                       18. 5.1972

Panama                       20. 3.1974

Poland                       18. 5.1972

Portugal                     24. 6.1975

Qatar                        12.11.1974

Romania                      10. 7.1972

Rwanda                       20. 5.1975

Sao Tome and Principe        24. 8.1979

Saudi Arabia                 23. 6.1972

Seychelles                    12 3.1985

Singapore                    10. 9.1976

Solomon Islands              17. 6.1981

South Africa                 14.11.1973

Spain                        15. 7.1987

Swaziland                    18. 5.1972

Sweden                       18. 5.1972

Switzerland                   4. 5.1976

Togo                         18. 5.1972

Tunisia                      18. 5.1972

Turkey                       25.10.1972











* In respect of the Kingdom in Europe, Netherlands, 

Antilles and Aruba.





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Ukrainian Soviet Socialist

  Republic                 18. 5.1972

Union of Soviet Socialist

  Republics                18. 5.1972

United Kingdom of

 Great Britain and Northern

 Ireland**                 18. 5.1972

United States of America   18. 5.1972

Viet Nam                   20. 6.1980

Yugoslavia                 25.10.1973

Zambia                      9.10.1972







** Extended to Antigua (now independent as Antigua and 

Barbuda), Dominica (now independent), Grenada (now 

independent), St. Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, Saint 

Christopher and Nevis (now independent), St. Lucia (now 

independent), St. Vincent (now independent as Saint 

Vincent and the Grenadines) and territories under the 

territorial sovereignty of the United Kingdom, as well as 

the State of Brunei (now independent).