Deterrence or Escalation? - Nuclear Weapons under International Law The risk of an escalation and thereby the use of nuclear arsenal in certain international conflicts is rapidly rising. Nuclear Weapons are yet again a major challenge for the international community and an intriguing topic for scholars and practitioners working in International Law. The manufacturing, stationing and use of Nuclear Weapons is one of International Law's most regulated areas. Nevertheless, there are a great number of problems regarding these international treaties. Some of the most significant questions could be outlined as:

a) Between almost universal ratification and deadlock: Which legal value and which impact on political decision of nuclear powers does the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons have?

b) How relevant and effective is the Treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons?

c) Does the changing role of the United States regarding nuclear safety, as seen in the unilateral cancelation of the Iran Treaty, impact the effectiveness of similar agreements?