Objective
To exclude the sea-bed, the ocean floor and the subsoil thereof from the arms race as a step towards disarmament, the reduction of international tensions and the maintenance of world peace.
Provisions
(a) Parties undertake not to place on the sea-bed, on the ocean floor or in the subsoil thereof, nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction, or structures for launching, storing, testing or using such weapons (art. 1),
(b) Outer limit of the sea-bed zone to be the 12 mile limit referred to in the Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, 1958 (art. 2);
(c) Observers from any party may observe and verify the activities of any other party on the sea-bed. In case of doubt parties shall consult and co-operate to remove such doubt by means of inspection and any other agreed procedures. If a serious question still remains concerning fulfilment of the obligations under the Treaty, a party may refer the matter to the United Nations Security Council (art. 3).
Membership
Open to all States for signature subject to ratification, or for accession. Instruments of ratification or accession to be deposited with the depositary Governments.
Date of adoption 11. 2. 1971
Places of adoption London, Moscow, Washington
Date of entry into force 18. 5. 1972
Languages Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish
Depositaries Union of Soviet Socialist Republics,United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America
Parties and dates of entry into force
Afghanistan 18. 5.1972 Argentina 21. 3.1983 Australia 23. 1.1973 Austria 10. 8.1972 Belgium 20.11.1972 Benin 19. 6.1986 Botswana 10.11.1972 Brazil 10. 5.1988 Bulgaria 18. 5.1972 Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic 18. 5.1972 Canada 18. 5.1972 Cape Verde 24.10.1979 Central African Republic 9. 7.1981 Congo 23.10.1978 Cuba 3. 6.1977 Cyprus 18. 5.1972 Czechoslovakia 18. 5.1972 Democratic Yemen 1. 6.1979 Denmark 18. 5.1972 Dominican Republic 18. 5.1972 Ethiopia 12. 7.1977 Finland 18. 5.1972 Germany, Democratic Republic 18. 5.1972 Germany, Federal Republic of 18.11.1975 Ghana 9. 8.1972 Greece 28. 5.1985 Guinea-Bissau 20. 8.1976 Hungary 18. 5.1972 Iceland 30. 5.1972 India 20. 7.1973 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 18. 5.1972 Iraq 13. 9.1972 Ireland 18. 5.1972 Italy 3. 9.1974 Ivory Coast 18. 5.1972 Jamaica 30. 7.1986 Japan 18. 5.1972 Jordan 18. 5.1972 Korea 25. 6.1987 Lao People's Democratic Repub18. 5.1972 Luxembourg 11.11.1982 Lesotho 3. 4.1973 Malaysia 21. 6.1972 Malta 18. 5.1972 Mauritius 18. 5.1972 Mexico 23. 3.1984 Mongolia 18. 5.1972 Morocco 18. 5.1972 Nepal 18. 5.1972 Netherlands* 14. 1.1976 New Zealand 18. 5.1972 Nicaragua 7. 2.1973 Niger 18. 5.1972 Norway 18. 5.1972 Panama 20. 3.1974 Poland 18. 5.1972 Portugal 24. 6.1975 Qatar 12.11.1974 Romania 10. 7.1972 Rwanda 20. 5.1975 Sao Tome and Principe 24. 8.1979 Saudi Arabia 23. 6.1972 Seychelles 12 3.1985 Singapore 10. 9.1976 Solomon Islands 17. 6.1981 South Africa 14.11.1973 Spain 15. 7.1987 Swaziland 18. 5.1972 Sweden 18. 5.1972 Switzerland 4. 5.1976 Togo 18. 5.1972 Tunisia 18. 5.1972 Turkey 25.10.1972 Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic 18. 5.1972 Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 18. 5.1972 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland** 18. 5.1972 United States of America 18. 5.1972 Viet Nam 20. 6.1980 Yugoslavia 25.10.1973 Zambia 9.10.1972
* In respect of the Kingdom in Europe, Netherlands, Antilles and Aruba.
** Extended to Antigua (now independent as Antigua and Barbuda), Dominica (now independent), Grenada (now independent), St. Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, Saint Christopher and Nevis (now independent), St. Lucia (now independent), St. Vincent (now independent as Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) and territories under the territorial sovereignty of the United Kingdom, as well as the State of Brunei (now independent).
