Italy is a signatory of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and has signed and ratified the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), being one of the 44 listed countries needed to sign and ratify for the CTBT to enter into force.

The Italian government completed its first three nuclear power plants - each equipped with only one reactor - at Latina in 1964, at Garigliano in 1964 and at Trino Vercellese in 1965, giving a total installed capacity of 500 MW. In 1977 plans for 20 more nuclear power plants were considered. In 1978 the fourth Italian nuclear power plant, located at Caorso, was connected to the grid.

The Italian nuclear power programme was suddenly curtailed following the Chernobyl tragedy in 1986.

On 8 November 1987 65.5% of the Italian people voted in favour of a referendum promoted by environmental associations over the future of nuclear power in Italy. In the referendum, 80% of voters supported the closure of Italian nuclear power plants and the ending of public funding for nuclear power. The referendum was able to call only for the restriction and freezing of the nuclear programme, namely a "nuclear protection". Soon afterwards the Italian government decided to put a five-year moratorium on all nuclear activities, including projects, power plants and research reactors.

Following the results of the referendum, the House of Deputies of the Italian Parliament passed a motion on 12 December 1987 calling for the final shut down of the Latina and Garigliano plants, a halt of any construction work at Trino II, and a freezing of operations at Trino I and Caorso and construction works at Alto Lazio.

Italy is a member of NATO and there are 50 US nuclear weapons stored at Aviano air base and a further 40 at Ghedi Torre air base.

Read the profile on Italy from the Model Nuclear Inventory (pdf), produced by the Reaching Critical Will project of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.