The NPT Extension Conference: A Challenging Endgame

The Western Group enters the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference with a strong position, as the majority of NPT signatories support indefinite extension. However, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the Arab League are making efforts to negotiate alternative extension options, and obtaining indefinite extension is not guaranteed. To achieve indefinite extension, the West must address concerns linked to this option, prevent NAM supporters from defecting, secure favorable voting procedures, and navigate conference dynamics. The loyalties of undecided states, particularly in the "southern" group, are vulnerable to alternative extension options, and the final vote count may not be clear until the last moment due to delayed decisions.