There was no significant change in the basic policy of the five NWS regarding transparency. In 2021, the United States disclosed the number of nuclear weapons stockpiles in that and previous years in 2021, but has not released such information since then. China, which has been criticized for being less transparent than the other NWS on nuclear issues, emphasizes the importance of transparency in intentions and policies. However, it has not disclosed information on the types and number of its nuclear arsenals, or its concrete plans for modernizing its nuclear forces.

At the 2023 NPT PrepCom, Austria, Japan and the United States submitted their respective national report. Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland and other countries issued a “Joint Statement on Transparency and Accountability,” calling on NWS to improve transparency.244 In its working paper, the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI) included a template, named “Future national reporting templates on implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons: suggested coverage of topics for different categories of States parties to the Treaty—indicative matrix.”245 The respective working papers submitted by Austria, Mexico and other countries,246 as well as by New Zealand, Switzerland and other countries,247 also listed specific items that NWS should include in their national reports. In addition, the NAC stated, “The present review cycle should develop clear measures for strengthening accountability through enhanced transparency and measurability of the implementation of nuclear disarmament obligations and commitments. These measures should include, but not be limited to, improved reporting by the nuclear-weapon States, as well as the establishment of a structured dialogue at the Preparatory Committee meetings and at the Review Conference on these reports.”248

At the 2012 NPT PrepCom, the NPDI proposed a draft form for reporting on nuclear warheads, delivery vehicles, fissile material for nuclear weapons and nuclear strategy/policies.249 Using that draft form, the following table summarizes the degree of transparency taken by the nuclear-weapon/armed states.

 

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244 “Joint Statement on transparency and accountability,” Cluster 3 Specific Issues, First PrepCom for the 11th NPT RevCon, August 9, 2023.
245 NPT/CONF.2026/PC.I/WP.18, June 29, 2023.
246 NPT/CONF.2026/PC.I/WP.24, July 25, 2023.
247 NPT/CONF.2026/PC.1/WP.6, June 13, 2023.

248 NPT/CONF.2026/PC.I/WP.5, June 13, 2023.
249 NPT/CONF.2015/PC.I/WP.12, April 20, 2012.