Type: IOCR

Why in the News?

The Coast Guards of India, Japan, the United States, and Australia have initiated the first-ever ‘QUAD At Sea Ship Observer Mission’.

About “At Sea Ship Observer Mission”:

• Overview: The ‘At Sea Ship Observer Mission’ is the first cross-embarkation initiative by the Coast Guards of India, Japan, the U.S., and Australia.
• Origin and Vision: It was conceptualised under the Wilmington Declaration (2024) to boost interoperability and maritime domain awareness in the Indo-Pacific.
• Participation: Officers from all QUAD countries, including women officers.
• Joint Training Operations: The mission enables joint SOP drills, search and rescue (SAR), patrolling, and promotes gender inclusion in maritime diplomacy.
• India’s Alignment: India’s role complements initiatives like SAGAR, the MAHASAGAR Doctrine, and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
• QUAD Summit Linkage: It operationalises decisions from the 6th QUAD Leaders’ Summit held in Wilmington, USA.
• Future Vision: Sets groundwork for a ‘QUAD Coast Guard Handshake’, enhancing trust, resilience, and standardised operations in the Indo-Pacific.
• Regional Impact: Aims to improve emergency response, coordination, and domain awareness among QUAD Coast Guards.

Why in the News?

Amid intensifying war with Israel, Iran’s Parliament began drafting a Bill to exit the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

About Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT):

• Overview: It is a global agreement aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons, promoting peaceful nuclear energy, and advancing nuclear disarmament.
• Enforcement: It was opened for signature on June 12, 1968, and came into force on March 5, 1970.
• Nature of the Treaty: It is the only binding international treaty that requires NWS to pursue disarmament.
• Categorization of States: The treaty distinguishes between Nuclear Weapon States (NWS) and Non-Nuclear Weapon States (Non-NWS).

• Key Features:

• • Definition of NWS: Countries that had tested nuclear weapons before January 1, 1967 (US, UK, France, Russia, China).
  • Obligations: NNWS agree not to manufacture or acquire nuclear weapons; NWS pledge not to transfer nuclear weapons or assist non-NWS in acquiring them.
  • Peaceful Use Clause: All parties are allowed to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, under IAEA safeguards.
  • Monitoring Agency: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) verifies compliance through inspections and reporting.
  • Withdrawal Clause: Article 10 allows a country to withdraw with 3 months’ notice if national interests are jeopardized.

India and NPT:

• India is NOT a signatory to the NPT and has consistently refused to join, calling it discriminatory.
• India argues that the treaty legitimizes nuclear weapons in the hands of five countries while denying them to others.
• India conducted its first nuclear test in 1974 (Smiling Buddha) and maintains a “No First Use” policy.
• Despite being outside the NPT, India is regarded as a responsible nuclear power and adheres to non-proliferation norms.

Non-members of NPT, Countries Planning to Leave:

• Non-signatories:
  • India and Pakistan have never signed the treaty, but both possess nuclear weapons.
  • Israel is also a non-signatory and maintains strategic ambiguity about its nuclear weapons.
  • South Sudan remains a non-signatory without known nuclear ambitions.
• Countries that withdrew or are planning to:
  • North Korea signed in 1985, withdrew in 2003, and went on to develop nuclear weapons.
  • Iran, though a signatory since 1970, has recently threatened to withdraw, citing IAEA censure and security concerns linked to its tensions with Israel.
  • If Iran leaves, it would end IAEA inspections and raise fears of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.