USA ratifies Additional Protocol
31 December 2008
US President George Bush has ratified the Additional Protocol (AP) of the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). A letter from the President, which certified that changes in US procedures will be in place within 180 days, was submitted to officials, Congressmen and Senators on 30 December. The AP allows International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors greater rights to information and freedom of movement in order to ensure materials meant for civilian power use are not used in clandestine weapons programs. In the case of the USA as a recognised nuclear weapons state, this means the IAEA will better be able to ensure that US weapons technology is not shared with other nations. The USA signed the Additional Protocol in 1998 and its ratification will mean all recognised weapons states have the AP in force.