This annotated chronology is based on the data sources that follow each entry. Public sources often provide conflicting information on classified military programs. In some cases we are unable to resolve these discrepancies, in others we have deliberately refrained from doing so to highlight the potential influence of false or misleading information as it appeared over time. In many cases, we are unable to independently verify claims. Hence in reviewing this chronology, readers should take into account the credibility of the sources employed here.

Inclusion in this chronology does not necessarily indicate that a particular development is of direct or indirect proliferation significance. Some entries provide international or domestic context for technological development and national policymaking. Moreover, some entries may refer to developments with positive consequences for nonproliferation.

18 July 1968
Under the regime of King Idris al-Sanusi, Libya signs the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
—Joshua Sinai, "Libya's Pursuit of Weapons of Mass Destruction," The Nonproliferation Review (Spring-Summer 1997), p. 97; Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Inventory of International Nonproliferation Organizations and Regimes (Monterey, CA: CNS, 2000), p. 223.

1969 to 1975
In the years between signing the NPT and ratifying it, Libya reportedly purchased several hundred tons of natural uranium from French-controlled mines in neighboring Niger, without subjecting the material to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. Some reports estimate that Libya purchased more than 1,200 tons of yellowcake from Niger.
—Kenneth Timmerman, Weapons of Mass Destruction: the Cases of Iran, Syria, and Libya (Los Angeles: Simon Wiesenthal Center, August 1992), p. 89.

1970s
Libya unsuccessfully attempts to purchase nuclear weapons from China.
As part of this effort, Qadhdhafi dispatches his second in command, Major Abdelsalam Jalloud, on a series of clandestine trips to China to procure atomic weapons.
—Joseph Cirincione with Jon B. Wolfsthal and Miriam Rajkumar, Deadly Arsenals, Tracking Weapons of Mass Destruction (Washington, DC: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2002), p. 307; Anthony Cordesman, Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Middle East, Center for Strategic and International Studies, 15 April 2003; Kenneth Timmerman, Weapons of Mass Destruction: the Cases of Iran, Syria, and Libya (Los Angeles: Simon Wiesenthal Center, August 1992), p. 88.

1970s
Libya acquires the 10-megawatt nuclear research reactor at Tajura from the Soviet Union. The reactor operates under IAEA safeguards.
—Anthony Cordesman, Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Middle East, Center for Strategic and International Studies, 15 April 2003.

1970s
Libya cancels plans to build a 440-megawatt, Soviet-supplied reactor near the Gulf of Sidra.
—Anthony Cordesman, Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Middle East, Center for Strategic and International Studies, 15 April 2003.

October 1973
At a secret meeting in Paris, Libya and Pakistan allegedly seal a pact to build an "Islamic Bomb" using Pakistani expertise and Libyan petrodollars. It has never been established whether the nuclear technology Libya acquired was in exchange for the several hundred million dollars it invested in Pakistani nuclear weapons research.
— Kenneth Timmerman, Weapons of Mass Destruction: the Cases of Iran, Syria, and Libya (Los Angeles: Simon Wiesenthal Center, August 1992), p. 88.

Late 1973
Libya attempts to purchase 20 calutrons to enrich uranium from Thomson-CSF. The deal, apparently supported by top company officials, is blocked by the French government because enrichment technology would obviously be of use to an undeclared nuclear weapons program.
— Kenneth Timmerman, Weapons of Mass Destruction: the Cases of Iran, Syria, and Libya (Los Angeles: Simon Wiesenthal Center, August 1992), p. 89.

February 1974
France reportedly discusses with Iraq and Libya the exchange of nuclear reactors for oil.
—"France Reportedly Discusses Exchange of Nuclear Reactors for Oil from Iraq and Libya," Wall Street Journal Information Bank Abstracts, 15 February 1974.

January 1975
Colonel Qadhdhafi announces that he plans to entice Arab scientists away from the United States and other Western countries to help make Libya a nuclear power. A member of the Libyan Revolutionary Command Council has started making offers to entice scientists to move to Libya.
—"Libyan Leader Col Muammar el-Qadhdhafi," The New York Times, 14 January 1975.

April 1975
In an interview with the Sudanese newspaper As Sahafa, Qadhdhafi hints that he hopes to transform Libya into a nuclear power, saying, "Nuclear weapons are no longer a secret."
—"Rumors of Libyan Atomic Bomb Quest Raise Fears," Washington Post, 30 July 1979.

May 1975
Libyan and Russian officials discuss possible cooperation on peaceful nuclear technology, including building a nuclear power plant in Libya.
—"Soviet Party Newspaper Pravda Denies Reports in Egyptian Newspaper Al Ahram," The New York Times, 28 May 1975.

26 May 1975
Libya ratifies the NPT and declares all its nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards.
—Joshua Sinai, "Libya's Pursuit of Weapons of Mass Destruction," The Nonproliferation Review (Spring-Summer 1997); Anthony Cordesman, Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Middle East, Center for Strategic and International Studies, 15 April 2003.

June 1975
Libya and the Soviet Union sign an accord for the establishment of a "center for peaceful purposes in Libya, including a small reactor."
—"Arab Revolutionary News Agency Reports Libyan Min Omar Abdullah Meheishi," The New York Times, 3 June 1975.

June 1975
A US government report alleges that Libya sought to buy nuclear power facilities in the United States but was rebuffed; it then turned to the Soviet Union.
—"US Officials Report US Govt Has Persuaded Brazil and W Germany," The New York Times, 4 June 1975.

1976
Negotiations are held between France and Libya for the purchase of a 600-megawatt reactor. A preliminary agreement in reached, but strong objections from the international community leads France to cancel the project.
—Frank Barnaby, The Invisible Bomb, The Nuclear Race in the Middle East (London: I.B. Tauris & Co Ltd. Publishers, 1993), p. 98.

March 1976
France and Libya reach an accord on the construction of a nuclear power plant in Libya.
—"Comment on French Accord to Build Nuclear Power Plant in Libya," The New York Times, 28 March 1976.

August 1976
A White House official includes Libya in a list of countries that are "interested in going nuclear."
—"Ford Administration Officials, Elaborating on Reports that Taiwan has Begun Producing Weapons-Grade Plutonium," The New York Times, 31 August 1976.

1977
Cooperation between Libya and Pakistan begins. Libya provides financial assistance to Pakistan and later delivers uranium yellowcake from Niger in the hope that Pakistan will share the results of its nuclear program with Libya.
— Joseph Cirincione with Jon B. Wolfsthal and Miriam Rajkumar, Miriam, Deadly Arsenals, Tracking Weapons of Mass Destruction (Washington, DC: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2002), p. 307; Anthony Cordesman, Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Middle East, Center for Strategic and International Studies, 15 April 2003.

December 1977
Libya reportedly contracts with the Soviet Union to construct a 440,000-kilowatt nuclear power plant. Libya is to pay $330 million of its oil earnings for the plant.
—"Libya Said to Buy Soviet A-Power Plant," The Washington Post, 12 December 1977.

4 October 1978
Moscow confirms earlier reports that it has agreed to provide Libya with a nuclear power complex.
—"Nuclear Power Agreements," The Washington Post, 4 October 1978.

1978
Libyan emissaries travel to India in an effort to purchase atomic weapons. The Libyans offer to pay India's entire foreign debt (estimated at $15 billion) in exchange for a nuclear weapon. The offer is rejected.
— Kenneth Timmerman, Weapons of Mass Destruction: the Cases of Iran, Syria, and Libya (Los Angeles: Simon Wiesenthal Center, August 1992), p. 89.

1979
Libya's Soviet-supplied research reactor at Tajura begins operation.
— Joseph Cirincione with Jon B. Wolfsthal and Miriam Rajkumar, Deadly Arsenals, Tracking Weapons of Mass Destruction (Washington, DC: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2002), p. 307.

April 1979
The US government cuts off aid to Pakistan in response to its development of nuclear weapons and reports that Libya and Saudi Arabia helped finance the Pakistan nuclear program in exchange for access to the resultant technology.
—"Pakistan Denies Trying to Develop Nuclear Weapons," The New York Times, 9 April 1979.

16 April 1979
Former US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer Cord Meyer alleges that Colonel Qadhdhafi sent aid to China in 1971 in the hope of being able to later purchase nuclear weapons technology from China.
—"Writer Reports Libya A-Bomb Bid," The Washington Post, 16 April 1979.

September 1979
Pakistani President Zia ul-Haq denies that his country is working with Libya to build a nuclear bomb for the Palestinian Liberation Organization.
—"Pakistani President Zia ul-Haq Denies that Pakistan Intends to Make a Nuclear Bomb," The New York Times, 23 September 1979.

25 November 1979
The Washington Star reports that Pakistan acquired some 100 tons of yellowcake from Libya. The uranium, which is not subject to IAEA safeguards, was reportedly first purchased from Niger by Libya and then sent to Pakistan.
—Frank Barnaby, The Invisible Bomb, The Nuclear Race in the Middle East (London: I.B. Tauris & Co Ltd. Publishers, 1993), p. 104.

	Updated September 2005