Preamble
The Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty, signed at Washington on 4th April, 1949,
Recognising that their mutual security and defence requires that they be prepared to meet the contingencies of atomic warfare, and
Recognising that their common interest will be advanced by making available to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and its member states information pertinent thereto, and
Taking into consideration the United States Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, which was prepared with these purposes in mind,
Acting on their own behalf and on behalf of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization,
In accordance with and subject to the requirements of the United States Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, the Government of the United States of America will, while the North Atlantic Treaty Organization continues to make substantial and material contributions to the mutual defence and security, co-operate by communicating, from time to time, to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and its member states, while they continue to make such contributions, atomic information in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, provided that the Government of the United States of America determines that such co-operation will promote and will not constitute an unreasonable risk to its defence and security.
Paralleling the undertaking of the Government of the United States of America under this Agreement, the other member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will, to the extent they deem necessary, communicate to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, including its military and civilian elements, and to member states atomic information of their own origin of the same types provided for in this Agreement. The terms and conditions governing these communications by other member states will be the subject of subsequent agreements, but will be the same or similar to the terms and conditions specified in this Agreement.
The Government of the United States of America will communicate to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, including its military and civilian elements, and to member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization requiring the atomic information in connection with their functions related to NATO missions, such atomic information as is determined by the Government of the United States of America to be necessary to:
(a) the development of defence plans;
(b) the training of personnel in the employment of and defence against atomic weapons and other military applications of atomic energy;
(c) the evaluation of the capabilities of potential enemies in the employment of atomic weapons and other military applications of atomic energy; and
(d) the development of delivery systems compatible with the atomic weapons which they carry.
2 Under this Agreement there will be no transfer by the Government of the United States of America of atomic weapons, non-nuclear parts of atomic weapons, or non-nuclear parts of atomic weapons systems involving Restricted Data.
1 Atomic information communicated pursuant to this Agreement shall be accorded full security protection under applicable NATO regulations and procedures, agreed security arrangements, and national legislation and regulations. In no case will the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or its member states maintain security standards for the safeguarding of atomic information less restrictive than those set forth in the pertinent NATO security regulations and other agreed security arrangements in effect on the date this Agreement comes into force.
4 Atomic information communicated or exchanged pursuant to this Agreement shall not be communicated or exchanged by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or persons under its jurisdiction to any unauthorized persons or, except as provided in paragraph 5 of this article, beyond the jurisdiction of that Organization.
5 Unless otherwise specified by the Government of the United States of America, United States atomic information provided to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization may be communicated by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to its member states as necessary to carry out functions related to NATO missions, provided that dissemination of such atomic information within such member states is limited to those specific individuals concerned with the NATO missions for which the information is required. Member states agree that atomic information so received from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or otherwise pursuant to this Agreement will not be transferred to unauthorised persons or beyond the jurisdiction of the recipient member state; however, such information may be communicated to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or, when authorised by the Government of the United States of America, to other member states requiring the information for functions related to NATO missions.
Other provisions of this Agreement notwithstanding, the Government of the United States of America may stipulate the degree to which any of the atomic information made available by it to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or member states may be disseminated, may specify the categories of persons who may have access to such information, and may impose such other restrictions on the dissemination of information as it deems necessary.
Nothing in this Agreement shall be considered to supersede or otherwise affect bilateral agreements between Parties to this Agreement providing for co-operation in the exchange of atomic information.
For the purpose of this Agreement:
(a) “Atomic weapon” means any device utilising atomic energy, exclusive of the means for transporting or propelling the device (where such means is a separable and divisible part of the device), the principal purpose of which is for use as, or for development of, a weapon, a weapon prototype, or weapon test device.
(b) “Atomic information” to be provided by the Government of the United States of America under this Agreement means information which is designated “Restricted Data” or “Formerly Restricted Data” by the Government of the United States of America.
2 The Government of the United States of America will inform all Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty, and will also inform the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, of each notification and of the entry into force of this Agreement.
3 This Agreement shall remain in force until terminated by unanimous agreement or superseded by another agreement, it being understood, however, that termination of this Agreement as a whole shall not release any Party from the requirements of this Agreement to safeguard information made available pursuant to it.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Article VI (4) of the Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty for Co-operation regarding Atomic Information, signed in Paris on 22nd June, 1955, the present Agreement shall upon its entry into force supersede the above-mentioned Agreement, it being understood, however, that information communicated under that Agreement shall be considered for all purposes to have been communicated under the provisions of this Agreement.
This Agreement shall bear the date on which it is opened for signature and shall remain open for signature until it has been signed by all the States Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty.