Signatories

One could argue that nuclear weapons played a significant role during the Cold War because of the deterrent value they brought to the strategic calculations used by both sides. The premise of the calculations was that both sides were rational actors and the realization of the destruction that their use would bring to either side caused both sides to modify their behavior. It has been argued that in today's terms, Strategic Parity was in fact a stable environment albeit not without major concerns. The proliferation of weapons today and the rise of non-state actors who have access to this technology has changed the strategic balance and calculations. The existence of these weapons has increased global uncertainty and it is now time for the global community to work toward a regime that eliminates the existence and possible use of these weapons.

General (Ret.) John J. "Jack" Sheehan is a retired United States Marine Corps general. He was Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic for NATO and Commander-in-Chief for the U.S. Atlantic Command (1994-1997).

He served in various command positions ranging from company commander to brigade commander in both the Atlantic and Pacific theater of operations. General Sheehan’s combat tours include duty in Vietnam and Desert Shield/Desert Storm. In 1998, General Sheehan joined Bechtel International as a Senior Vice President.