The Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), with over 160 parties, is the most widely adhered to arms control treaty in history, but it has been criticized throughout its existence. In 1995, it is confronting a fateful decision on its extension and its application to today`s world. In many ways it it unfortunate that fundamental questions about the treaty and its role in the post-Cold War world are not being addressed. The environment in which the NPT emerged and flourished has changed fundamentally, including the collapse of one of the founding members, the USSR. Iraq, Iran, and North Korea weapon development programs have raised important questions about its effectiveness. Also, the NPT, with its discrimination between nuclear weapon states (NWSs) and nonnuclear weapon states (NNWSs), is now being questioned and alternatives such as a revival of the Baruch Plan are being put forward, moreover, the NPT has not been the chosen international policy path for dealing with chemical and biological weapons. The paper outlines the history of international policy on nuclear weapons and their proliferation from the 1940`s to today. If the NPT does survive in 1995, can it be strengthened? The full range of issues on NPTsmore » extension will be debated endlessly, but vigilance is necessary, the treaty will have to be tended over time or it will wither and die.« less