Nuclear Treaties, Agreements and Regulations of the Dominican Republic: A Case Study on the Peaceful Use of Atomic Energy

Abstract

This article presents a historical review of the nuclear treaties and agreements signed by the Dominican Republic, tracing their chronological evolution from the first bilateral cooperation agreement with the United States (1956) to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (2018). Through systematic documentary analysis and triangulation of primary sources, three historical periods are identified: bilateral construction (1956–1971), regional and security integration (1984–2000), and multilateral consolidation (2009–present). The national normative framework developed in response to these international commitments is also examined. Results confirm that the Dominican Republic has built a coherent and progressive trajectory of nuclear commitments aligned with the peaceful use of atomic energy, while identifying a persistent structural gap: the absence of a comprehensive Nuclear Activities Act that consolidates the full scope of international commitments assumed over seven decades.