NPT: 1975
CTBT: not signed
First Test: none
First Hydrogen Bomb: none
Current number of nuclear warheads: 0
Last Updated: 2/27/02
Libya ratified the Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1975 and agreed in 1980 to allow the IAEA to inspect its nuclear installations. However, Col. Mohamar Qadhafi made multiple announcements to the effect that Libya was going to acquire nuclear weapons in order to balance Israel. Libya sought help from numerous countries, including China, to this end, and also may have been involved with Pakistan’s nuclear program. However, these efforts ultimately fell through, and after many years of being considered a top proliferation risk, Libya is now considered unlikely to be able to develop nuclear weapons for a very long time.
Resources:
Cordesmann, Anthony H. The Military Balance in the Middle East: an Executive Summary. La Jolla: Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation, 1999.
