Latin America and the nuclear nonproliferation regime

Abstract

One of the greatest threats facing humanity today is the potential use of nuclear weapons, both by States that legally possess them and by those with non-internationally authorized nuclear programs. To counter this threat, the nuclear non-proliferation regime governs the use of this type of weaponry. In this context, this paper evaluates the set of international norms of the nuclear nonproliferation regime; using a qualitative methodology and based on a literature review, it describes the evolutionary process of the regime, highlighting the role played by Latin American States in the creation and strengthening of this legislation. As a result, it is identified that the regime has a wide range of instruments to control the use of this type of weaponry; that Latin America has made positive contributions and that its territory is considered and respected as a non-nuclear space, becoming a world reference in the fight against weapons of mass destruction.

Keywords

• nuclear weapons
• nuclear nonproliferation regime
• nuclear nonproliferation treaty
• latin american nuclear governance