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Regional nuclear arms control in Latin America

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 May 2009

John R. Redick
John R. Redick
Affiliation:
John R. Redick is the Research Director of The Stanley Foundation, and editor of The Stanley Foundation OccasionalPaper series.
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Extract

The Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America (Treaty of Tlatelolco) was signed in 1967 and is now in force for eighteen Latin American nations (the important exceptions being Argentina and Brazil). Under the terms of the treaty the Organization for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America (OPANAL) was established in 1969. With headquarters in Mexico City, OPANAL is a sophisticated control mechanism composed of three principal organs: a General Conference, Council and Secretariat. This article examines the effort to establish regional nuclear weapons free zone in Latin America and analyzes the ability of the Tlatelolco Treaty to provide the legal and political framework for containment of the growing military potential of Latin American nuclear energy programs. Particular attention is given to the positions of key Latin American nations within the region, nuclear weapons states, and those nations retaining territorial interest within the nuclear weapons free zone. In addition several policy options are advanced which could facilitate the more complete implementation of regional nuclear arms control in Latin America.

Type
Articles
Information
International Organization , Volume 29 , Issue 2 , Spring 1975 , pp. 415 - 445
Copyright
Copyright © The IO Foundation 1975

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References

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33 For the complete verbatim account of speeches, communiques, and press interviews during President Echeverria's seven nation Latin American tour see Hispano Americano July 22, July 29, and August 5, 1974.

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