For more than 40 years, the United States has been at the forefront of international efforts to control the spread of nuclear weapons. From Pakistan to Pyongyang, it has played a crucial role in curbing their proliferation.
Now these decades of hard work have been undermined gravely by Republican senators intent on pursuing a narrow political agenda.
Fortunately, their rejection of US ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty may not lead to an immediate resumption of nuclear tests. The Clinton administration has promised to continue its present test moratorium and other countries reacted calmly yesterday. But, in the long run, the situation is far more dangerous.
India and Pakistan, which had been moving towards signing the treaty, will now be less willing to do so. China and Russia also are likely to delay ratification.
As shown by last year's series of tit-for-tat explosions by New Delhi and Islamabad, when one country resumes testing others feel compelled to follow suit. After this week's coup in Pakistan, which is likely to curtail its foreign aid allotments, the fear is that an isolated and impoverished military regime will now feel more inclined to play its nuclear card. That could provoke tests by not only India but also China. Worse still is the danger of wider fallout as a result of the Senate vote.
While not directly related to the proliferation issue, some impact is inevitable. North Korea will use it as ammunition in the brinkmanship over its nuclear programme.
