View source for Seabed Arms Control Treaty

{{Short description|1971 international agreement limiting nuclear weapons on the sea floor}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=February 2011}}
{{Infobox Treaty
| name                = Seabed Arms Control Treaty
| long_name           =Treaty on the Prohibition of the Emplacement of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Sea-Bed and the Ocean Floor and in the Subsoil Thereof
| image               =Seabed Arms Control Treaty parties.svg
| image_width         = 350px
| caption             =Ratifications and signatories of the treaty<br>
{{legend-table|lang=en|title=  |#008000|Parties  |#ffff00|Signatories|#ff1111|Non-parties}}
| type                =
| date_drafted        =
| date_signed         = 11 February 1971
| location_signed     = 
| date_sealed         =
| date_effective      = 18 May 1972
| condition_effective = 22 ratifications (including depositary states)
| date_expiration     =
| signatories         = 84
| parties             = 94<ref name=unoda>{{cite web|url=https://treaties.unoda.org/t/sea_bed|title=Treaty on the Prohibition of the Emplacement of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Sea-Bed and the Ocean Floor and in the Subsoil Thereof|access-date=2015-02-13|publisher=[[United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs]]}}</ref> (as of May 2014)
| depositor           = Governments of the United States of America, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
| language            =
| languages           = English, French, Russian, Spanish and Chinese
| website             = 
| wikisource          = Seabed Arms Control Treaty
}}

The '''Seabed Arms Control Treaty''' (or '''Seabed Treaty''', formally the '''Treaty on the Prohibition of the Emplacement of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Sea-Bed and the Ocean Floor and in the Subsoil thereof''') is a multilateral agreement between the [[United States]], [[Soviet Union]] (now [[Russia]]), [[United Kingdom]], and 91 other [[Country|countries]]<ref name=unoda/> banning the emplacement of [[nuclear weapons]] or "[[weapons of mass destruction]]" on the [[Seabed|ocean floor]] beyond a 12-mile (22.2&nbsp;km) coastal zone. It allows signatories to observe all [[seabed]] "activities" of any other signatory beyond the 12-mile zone to ensure compliance.

Like the [[Antarctic Treaty]], the [[Outer Space Treaty]], and the [[Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone]] treaties, the Seabed Arms Control Treaty sought to prevent the introduction of international conflict and nuclear weapons into an area hitherto free of them. Reaching agreement on the seabed, however, involved problems that were not met in framing the other two agreements.{{Such as|date=June 2025}}

==History==
In the 1960s, advances in the [[technology]] of [[oceanography]] and greatly increased interest in the vast and virtually untapped resources of the ocean floor led to concern that the absence of clearly established rules of law might lead to strife. There were concurrent fears that nations might use the seabed as a new environment for military installations, including those capable of launching nuclear weapons.

In keeping with a proposal submitted to the [[UN Secretary-General|U.N. Secretary General]] by Ambassador Pardo of [[Malta]] in August 1967, the [[U.N. General Assembly]], on 18 December 1967, established an ad hoc committee to study ways of reserving the seabed for peaceful purposes, with the objective of ensuring "that the exploration and use of the seabed and the ocean floor should be conducted in accordance with the principles and purposes of the [[Charter of the United Nations]], in the interests of maintaining international peace and security and for the benefit of all mankind." The committee was given permanent status the following year. At the same time, seabed-related military and arms control issues were referred to the [[Eighteen Nation Committee on Disarmament]] (ENDC) and its successor, the [[Conference of the Committee on Disarmament]] (CCD). In a message of 18 March 1969, President [[Richard Nixon|Nixon]] said the American delegation to the ENDC should seek discussion of the factors necessary for an international agreement prohibiting the emplacement of weapons of mass destruction on the seabed and ocean floor and pointed out that an agreement of this kind would, like the Antarctic and Outer Space treaties, "prevent an arms race before it has a chance to start."

==Status==

===List of parties===
The Seabed Arms Control Treaty was opened for signature in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]], [[London]], and [[Moscow]] on 11 February 1971.<ref name="HronikaBelgrade">{{cite book |editor= Milutin Tomanović |date=1972 |title=Hronika međunarodnih događaja 1971 |trans-title=The Chronicle of International Events in 1971 |language=sh |page= 2615 |location=[[Belgrade]] |publisher=[[Institute of International Politics and Economics]] }}</ref> It entered into force 18 May 1972, when the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and more than 22 nations had deposited instruments of ratification.  As of October 2018, 94 current states are parties to the treaty, while another 21 have signed the treaty but have not completed ratification.<ref name=unoda/>

Multiple dates indicate the different days in which states submitted their signature or deposition, which varied by location.  This location is noted by: (L) for London, (M) for Moscow, and (W) for Washington.

{|class="wikitable sortable"
! State<ref name=unoda/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/treaty-on-the-prohibition-of-the-emplacement-of-nuclear-weapons-and-other-weapons-of-mass-destruction-on-the-sea-bed-and-the-ocean-floor-and-in-the-su|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130104161243/http://www.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/pdf/3706546/3892723/TrNucWeapSea-Bed|archive-date=2013-01-04|title=TREATY ON THE PROHIBITION OF THE EMPLACEMENT OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND OTHER WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION ON THE SEA-BED AND THE OCEAN FLOOR AND IN THE SUBSOIL THEREOF|access-date=2015-02-13|publisher=[[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]]}}<br/>{{cite web|url=https://treaties.fco.gov.uk/awweb/pdfopener?md=1&did=70925|title=Treaty on the Prohibition of the Emplacement of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Sea-Bed and the Ocean Floor and in the Subsoil Thereof (London Version)|access-date=2019-04-27|publisher=[[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/seabeds-treaty|title=Treaty on the Prohibition of the Emplacement of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Seabed and the Ocean Floor and in the Subsoil Thereof|date=2010-10-06|access-date=2019-07-01|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/international_contracts/international_contracts/multilateral_contract/51183/|title=Договор о запрещении размещения на дне морей и океанов и в его недрах ядерного оружия и других видов оружия массового уничтожения|language=ru|access-date=2025-04-05|publisher=[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia]]}}</ref>
! Signed
! Deposited
! Method
|-
| {{flag|Afghanistan}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1971|Apr|22}} (M)<br />{{dts|1971|Apr|23}} (L)<br />{{dts|1971|May|21}} (W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Algeria}}
| 
| {{dts|1992|Jan|27}} (W)
| Accession
|-
| {{flag|Antigua and Barbuda}}
| 
| {{dts|1988|Nov|16}} (W)<br />{{dts|1988|Dec|26}} (M)<br />{{dts|1989|Jan|26}} (L)
| Succession from {{flag|United Kingdom}}
|-
| {{flag|Argentina}}
| {{dts|1971|Sep|3}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1983|Mar|21}} (L, M, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Australia}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1973|Jan|23}} (L, M, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Austria}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1972|Aug|10}} (L, M, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Bahamas}}
| 
| {{dts|1989|Jun|7}} (W)
| Accession
|-
| {{flag|Belarus}}
| {{dts|1971|Mar|3}} (M)
| {{dts|1971|Sep|14}} (M)
| Ratified as the {{flag|Byelorussian SSR}}
|-
| {{flag|Belgium}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1972|Nov|20}} (L, M, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Benin}}
| {{dts|1971|Mar|18}} (W)
| {{dts|1986|Jun|19}} (M)<br />{{dts|1986|Jul|2}} (L)<br />{{dts|1986|Jul|7}} (W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}
| 
| {{dts|1994|Aug|15}} (W)
| Succession from {{flag|Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|name=SFR Yugoslavia}}
|-
| {{flag|Botswana}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (W)
| {{dts|1972|Nov|10}} (W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Brazil}}
| {{dts|1971|Sep|3}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1988|May|10}} (L, W)<br />{{dts|1988|Aug|4}} (M)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Bulgaria}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1971|Apr|16}} (M)<br />{{dts|1971|May|7}} (W)<br />{{dts|1971|May|26}} (L)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Canada}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1972|May|17}} (L, M, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Cape Verde}}
| 
| {{dts|1979|Oct|24}} (M)
| Accession
|-
| {{flag|Central African Republic}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (W)
| {{dts|1981|Jul|9}} (W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|China}}
| 
| {{dts|1991|Feb|28}} (L, M, W)
| Accession
|-
| {{flag|Congo}}
| 
| {{dts|1978|Oct|23}} (W)
| Accession
|-
| {{flag|Côte d'Ivoire}}
| 
| {{dts|1972|Jan|14}} (M, W)
| Accession
|-
| {{flag|Cuba}}
| 
| {{dts|1977|Jun|3}} (M)
| Accession
|-
| {{flag|Cyprus}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1971|Nov|17}} (L, M)<br />{{dts|1971|Dec|30}} (W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Czech Republic}}
| 
| {{dts|1993|Jan|1}} (W)<br />{{dts|1993|Apr|5}} (L)<br />{{dts|1993|Apr|9}} (M)
| Succession from {{flag|Czechoslovakia}}
|-
| {{flag|Denmark}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1971|Jun|15}} (L, M, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Dominican Republic}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (W)
| {{dts|1972|Feb|11}} (W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Ethiopia}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1977|Jul|12}} (L)<br />{{dts|1977|Jul|14}} (M, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Finland}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1971|Jun|8}} (L, M, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Germany}}
| {{dts|1971|Jun|8}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1975|Nov|18}} (L, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Ghana}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1972|Aug|9}} (W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Greece}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (M)<br />{{dts|1971|Feb|12}} (W)
| {{dts|1985|May|28}} (L, M, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Guatemala}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (W)
| {{dts|1996|Apr|1}} (W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Guinea-Bissau}}
| 
| {{dts|1976|Aug|20}} (M)
| Accession
|-
| {{flag|Hungary}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1971|Aug|13}} (L, M, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Iceland}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1972|May|30}} (L, M, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|India}}
| 
| {{dts|1973|Jul|20}} (L, M, W)
| Accession
|-
| {{flag|Iran}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1971|Aug|26}} (L, W)<br />{{dts|1971|Sep|6}} (M)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Iraq}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|22}} (M)
| {{dts|1972|Sep|13}} (M)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Ireland}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, W)
| {{dts|1971|Aug|19}} (L, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Italy}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1974|Sep|3}} (L, M, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Jamaica}}
| {{dts|1971|Oct|11}} (L, W)<br />{{dts|1971|Oct|14}} (M)
| {{dts|1986|Jul|30}} (L, M, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Japan}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1971|Jun|21}} (L, M, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Jordan}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1971|Aug|17}} (W)<br />{{dts|1971|Aug|30}} (M)<br />{{dts|1971|Nov|1}} (L)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|South Korea}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, W)
| {{dts|1987|Jun|25}} (L, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Laos}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, W)<br />{{dts|1971|Feb|15}} (M)
| {{dts|1971|Oct|19}} (L)<br />{{dts|1971|Oct|22}} (M)<br />{{dts|1971|Nov|3}} (W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Latvia}}
| 
| {{dts|1992|Jun|24}} (L)<br />{{dts|1992|Aug|3}} (W)<br />{{dts|1992|Aug|21}} (M)
| Accession
|-
| {{flag|Lesotho}}
| {{dts|1971|Sep|8}} (W)
| {{dts|1973|Apr|3}} (W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Libya}}
| 
| {{dts|1990|Jul|6}} (M)
| Accession
|-
| {{flag|Liechtenstein}}
| 
| {{dts|1991|May|30}} (L, W)<br />{{dts|1991|May|31}} (M)
| Accession
|-
| {{flag|Luxembourg}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1982|Nov|11}} (L, M, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Malaysia}}
| {{dts|1971|May|20}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1972|Jun|21}} (L, M, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Malta}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, W)
| {{dts|1971|May|4}} (W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Mauritius}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (W)
| {{dts|1971|Apr|23}} (W)<br />{{dts|1971|May|3}} (L)<br />{{dts|1971|May|18}} (M)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Mexico}}
| 
| {{dts|1984|Mar|23}} (L, M, W)
| Accession
|-
| {{flag|Mongolia}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M)
| {{dts|1971|Oct|8}} (M)<br />{{dts|1981|Nov|15}} (L)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Montenegro}}
| 
| {{dts|2006|Jun|3}} (M)<br>{{dts|2006|Dec|12}} (L)
| Succession from {{flag|Serbia and Montenegro|name=FR Yugoslavia}}{{efn|Montenegro's effective date of succession was 3 June 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://disarmament.un.org/treaties/a/sea_bed/montenegro/suc/london|title=Montenegro: Succession to Sea-Bed Treaty
|access-date=2016-08-10|publisher=[[United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs]]}}</ref>}}
|-
| {{flag|Morocco}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (M, W)<br />{{dts|1971|Feb|18}} (L)
| {{dts|1971|Jul|26}} (L)<br />{{dts|1971|Aug|5}} (W)<br />{{dts|1972|Jan|18}} (M)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Nepal}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (M, W)<br />{{dts|1971|Feb|24}} (L)
| {{dts|1971|Jul|6}} (L)<br />{{dts|1971|Jul|29}} (M)<br />{{dts|1971|Aug|9}} (W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Netherlands}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1976|Jan|14}} (L, M, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|New Zealand}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1972|Feb|24}} (L, M, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Nicaragua}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (W)
| {{dts|1973|Feb|7}} (W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Niger}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (W)
| {{dts|1971|Aug|9}} (W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Norway}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1971|Jun|28}} (L, M)<br />{{dts|1971|Jun|29}} (W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Panama}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (W)
| {{dts|1974|Mar|20}} (W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Philippines}}
| 
| {{dts|1993|Nov|5}} (L)
| Accession
|-
| {{flag|Poland}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1971|Nov|15}} (L, M, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Portugal}}
| 
| {{dts|1975|Jun|24}} (L, M, W)
| Accession
|-
| {{flag|Qatar}}
| 
| {{dts|1974|Nov|12}} (L)
| Accession
|-
| {{flag|Romania}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1972|Jul|10}} (L, M, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Russia}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1972|May|18}} (L, M, W)
| Ratified as the {{flag|Soviet Union}}
|-
| {{flag|Rwanda}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (W)
| {{dts|1975|May|20}} (L, M, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Saint Kitts and Nevis}}
| 
| {{dts|1972|May|18}} (W)
| Accession
|-
| {{flag|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}
| 
| {{dts|1999|May|13}} (L)
| Succession from {{flag|United Kingdom}}
|-
| {{flag|Sao Tome and Principe}}
| 
| {{dts|1979|Aug|24}} (M)
| Accession
|-
| {{flag|Saudi Arabia}}
| {{dts|1972|Jan|7}} (W)
| {{dts|1972|Jun|23}} (W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Serbia}}
| 
| {{dts|2006|Jun|3}} (L, M)
| Succession from {{flag|Serbia and Montenegro|name=FR Yugoslavia}}
|-
| {{flag|Seychelles}}
| 
| {{dts|1985|Mar|12}} (L)<br />{{dts|1985|Mar|14}} (M)<br />{{dts|1985|Apr|8}} (W)
| Accession
|-
| {{flag|Singapore}}
| {{dts|1971|May|5}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1976|Sep|10}} (L, M, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Slovakia}}
| 
| {{dts|1993|Jan|1}} (W)<br />{{dts|1993|May|17}} (L)<br />{{dts|1993|Jun|25}} (M)
| Succession from {{flag|Czechoslovakia}}
|-
| {{flag|Slovenia}}
| 
| {{dts|1992|Apr|7}} (L)<br />{{dts|1992|Aug|20}} (W)
| Succession from {{flag|Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|name=SFR Yugoslavia}}
|-
| {{flag|Solomon Islands}}
| 
| {{dts|1981|Jun|17}} (L)
| Succession from {{flag|United Kingdom}}
|-
| {{flag|South Africa}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (W)
| {{dts|1973|Nov|14}} (W)<br />{{dts|1973|Nov|26}} (L)<br />{{dts|1973|Nov|30}} (M)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Spain}}
| 
| {{dts|1987|Jul|15}} (L, M, W)
| Accession
|-
| {{flag|Swaziland}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (W)
| {{dts|1971|Aug|9}} (W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Sweden}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1972|Apr|28}} (L, M, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Switzerland}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1976|May|4}} (L, M, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Togo}}
| {{dts|1971|Apr|2}} (W)
| {{dts|1971|Jun|28}} (W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Tunisia}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1971|Oct|22}} (M)<br />{{dts|1971|Oct|28}} (L)<br />{{dts|1971|Oct|29}} (W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Turkey}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|25}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1972|Oct|19}} (W)<br />{{dts|1972|Oct|25}} (L)<br />{{dts|1972|Oct|30}} (M)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Ukraine}}
| {{dts|1971|Mar|3}} (M)
| {{dts|1971|Sep|3}} (M)
| Ratified as the {{flag|Ukrainian SSR}}
|-
| {{flag|United Kingdom}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1972|May|18}} (L, M, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|United States}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
| {{dts|1972|May|18}} (L, M, W)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Vietnam}}
| 
| {{dts|1980|Jun|20}} (M)
| Accession as the {{flag|Vietnam|name=Socialist Republic of Vietnam}}{{efn|Signed by the {{flag|South Vietnam|name=Republic of Vietnam}} on 11 February 1971, but following the victory by the [[Democratic Republic of Vietnam]] in the [[Vietnam War]], the reunified [[Socialist Republic of Vietnam]] renounced all treaty actions performed by the Republic of Vietnam.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://disarmament.un.org/treaties/a/sea_bed/vietnam/acc/moscow|title=Viet Nam: Accession to Sea-Bed Treaty|access-date=2015-02-16|publisher=[[United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs]]}}</ref>}}
|-
| {{flag|Yemen}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|23}} (M)
| {{dts|1979|Jun|1}} (M)
| Ratification
|-
| {{flag|Zambia}}
| 
| {{dts|1972|Oct|9}} (L)<br />{{dts|1972|Nov|1}} (W)<br />{{dts|1972|Nov|2}} (M)
| Accession
|}

;Notes
{{notelist|close}}

===State with limited recognition, abiding by treaty===
The [[Republic of China]] (Taiwan), which is currently only recognized by {{numrec|ROC||UN member states}}, deposited their instruments of ratification of the treaty prior to the United States' decision to [[Sino-American relations|switch their recognition]] of the [[One-China policy|sole legitimate government of China]] from the Republic of China (ROC) to the [[People's Republic of China]] (PRC) in 1971.  When the PRC subsequently ratified the treaty, they described the ROC's ratification as "illegal".  The ROC has committed itself to continue to adhere to the requirements of the treaty, and the United States has declared that they still consider them to be "bound by its obligations".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://disarmament.un.org/treaties/a/sea_bed/china/acc/washington|title=China: Accession to Sea-Bed Treaty
|access-date=2015-02-16|publisher=[[United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs]]}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! State
! Signed
! Deposited
! Method
|-
| {{flag|Republic of China}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}}
| {{dts|1972|Feb|22}}
| Ratification
|}

===States that have signed but not ratified===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! State
! Signed
|-
| {{flag|Bolivia}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
|-
| {{flag|Burundi}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (M, W)
|-
| {{flag|Cambodia}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (W)
|-
| {{flag|Cameroon}}
| {{dts|1971|Nov|11}} (M)
|-
| {{flag|Colombia}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (W)
|-
| {{flag|Costa Rica}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (W)
|-
| {{flag|Equatorial Guinea}}
| {{dts|1971|Jun|4}} (W)
|-
| {{flag|Gambia}}
| {{dts|1971|May|18}} (L)<br />{{dts|1971|May|21}} (M)<br />{{dts|1971|Oct|29}} (W)
|-
| {{flag|Guinea}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (M, W)
|-
| {{flag|Honduras}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (W)
|-
| {{flag|Lebanon}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
|-
| {{flag|Liberia}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (W)
|-
| {{flag|Madagascar}}
| {{dts|1971|Sep|14}} (W)
|-
| {{flag|Mali}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (W)<br />{{dts|1971|Feb|15}} (M)
|-
| {{flag|Myanmar}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L, M, W)
|-
| {{flag|Paraguay}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|23}} (W)
|-
| {{flag|Senegal}}
| {{dts|1971|Mar|17}} (W)
|-
| {{flag|Sierra Leone}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L)<br />{{dts|1971|Feb|12}} (M)<br />{{dts|1971|Feb|24}} (W)
|-
| {{flag|Sudan}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (L)<br />{{dts|1971|Feb|12}} (M)
|-
| {{flag|Tanzania}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (W)
|-
| {{flag|Uruguay}}
| {{dts|1971|Feb|11}} (W)
|}

===Non-signatory states===
The remaining [[UN member states]] and [[UN observer state]]s, which have not signed the treaty, are:

{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* {{flag|Albania}}
* {{flag|Andorra}}
* {{flag|Angola}}
* {{flag|Armenia}}
* {{flag|Azerbaijan}}
* {{flag|Bahrain}}
* {{flag|Bangladesh}}
* {{flag|Barbados}}
* {{flag|Belize}}
* {{flag|Bhutan}}
* {{flag|Brunei}}
* {{flag|Burkina Faso}}
* {{flag|Chad}}
* {{flag|Chile}}
* {{flag|Comoros}}
* {{flag|Democratic Republic of the Congo}}
* {{flag|Croatia}}
* {{flag|Djibouti}}
* {{flag|Dominica}}
* {{flag|Ecuador}}
* {{flag|Egypt}}
* {{flag|El Salvador}}
* {{flag|Eritrea}}
* {{flag|Estonia}}
* {{flag|Fiji}}
* {{flag|France}}
* {{flag|Gabon}}
* {{flag|Georgia}}
* {{flag|Grenada}}
* {{flag|Guyana}}
* {{flag|Haiti}}
* {{flag|Indonesia}}
* {{flag|Israel}}
* {{flag|Kazakhstan}}
* {{flag|Kenya}}
* {{flag|Kiribati}}
* {{flag|North Korea}}
* {{flag|Kuwait}}
* {{flag|Kyrgyzstan}}
* {{flag|Lithuania}}
* {{flag|Malawi}}
* {{flag|Maldives}}
* {{flag|Marshall Islands}}
* {{flag|Mauritania}}
* {{flag|Micronesia}}
* {{flag|Moldova}}
* {{flag|Monaco}}
* {{flag|Mozambique}}
* {{flag|Namibia}}
* {{flag|Nauru}}
* {{flag|Nigeria}}
* {{flag|North Macedonia}}
* {{flag|Oman}}
* {{flag|Pakistan}}
* {{flag|Palau}}
* {{flag|Papua New Guinea}}
* {{flag|Peru}}
* {{flag|Saint Lucia}}
* {{flag|Samoa}}
* {{flag|San Marino}}
* {{flag|Somalia}}
* {{flag|South Sudan}}
* {{flag|Sri Lanka}}
* {{flag|Suriname}}
* {{flag|Syria}}
* {{flag|Tajikistan}}
* {{flag|Thailand}}
* {{flag|Timor Leste}}
* {{flag|Tonga}}
* {{flag|Trinidad and Tobago}}
* {{flag|Turkmenistan}}
* {{flag|Tuvalu}}
* {{flag|Uganda}}
* {{flag|United Arab Emirates}}
* {{flag|Uzbekistan}}
* {{flag|Vanuatu}}
* {{flag|Venezuela}}
* {{flag|Zimbabwe}}
{{div col end}}

== See also ==
* [[International Seabed Authority]]
* '''''<small>{{portal-inline|Nuclear technology}}</small>'''''

== References ==
{{US DOS|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/t/isn/5187.htm|title=Treaty on the Prohibition of the Emplacement of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Seabed and the Ocean Floor and in the Subsoil Thereof}}
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{wikisource}}
* [https://www.nti.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/seabed_treaty.pdf Text of the treaty]
* [https://nuke.fas.org/control/seabed/ Seabed Arms Control Treaty], [[Federation of American Scientists]]
* [https://1997-2001.state.gov/www/global/arms/treaties/seabed1.html Treaty on the Prohibition of the Emplacement of Nuclear Weapons and other Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Sea-Bed and the Ocean Floor and in the Subsoil Thereof], [[United States Department of State]]
* [https://1997-2001.state.gov/www/global/arms/treaties/seabed3.txt Signatories and ratifications list]

{{Nuclear weapons limitation treaty}}
{{Law of the sea}}
{{Authority control}}

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