Nuclear weapons rules written in 1970 face pressure as nine nations hold arsenals

Al Jazeera examines the global nuclear weapons framework established by the 1970 Non-Proliferation Treaty, which governs which countries can possess nuclear weapons and which cannot. Nine nations currently possess nuclear arsenals while dozens more use nuclear technology for civilian purposes in energy, medicine, and research. The rigid decades-old rules are increasingly questioned as emerging powers seek nuclear capabilities and existing powers modernize arsenals, raising questions about the treaty's effectiveness in the 21st century. This analysis comes amid ongoing debates at the UN and international forums about nuclear disarmament and proliferation prevention.