Nuclear diplomacy between international security and geopolitical competition

Nuclear diplomacy is one of the key mechanisms of global security. However, it can also be perceived as an instrument of geopolitical competition among nuclear-armed states. This paper examines its dual nature, exploring how international agreements and institutions contribute to global security while also analyzing how major powers use nuclear capabilities as a means of competition. By assessing the provisions of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the paper examines both the successes and limitations of diplomatic efforts in preventing nuclear proliferation. Special emphasis is placed on the dynamics of relations between leading nuclear powers and their approach toward regional actors that have acquired nuclear weapons after 1968. The paper concludes that the future of nuclear diplomacy remains uncertain precisely because of its dual nature.