The underlying trend is toward US unilateralism, which has the potential to destabilize international relations and frustrate international objectives on nonproliferation, war prevention, and disarmament. The test ban vote has been ascribed by some to domestic squabbles and partisan politics. If that were the whole truth, there would be hope that a new administration could manage its relationship with Congress better and get treaty ratifications and foreign policy decisions through in the future. If US unilateralism triggers the disintegration of the system of interlocking agreements and treaties that comprise the international nonproliferation and security regimes, the consequences would be far reaching. By the time the United States realizes that partnership and restraint provide greater security than going it alone, it could be too late.
Nuclear weapons are a great leveler.
Rebecca Johnson is executive director of the Acronym Institute in London, which publishes Disarmament Diplomacy. She regularly covers sessions of the Conference on Disarmament and NPT-related issues and conferences.