TPNW First Meeting of States Parties: A requested condition of nuclear state’s participation in TPNW to be determined by the elimination of all nuclear arms it possesses within 10 years
Jun. 24, 2022
by Kana Kobayashi, Staff Writer
VIENNA- On June 22, the first meeting of states parties (MSP) to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which is in session from June 21 through 23 in Vienna, Austria, determined that a nuclear state will be required to eliminate all of its nuclear weapons within ten years if the state is to participate in TPNW. Though nuclear nations such as the United States haven’t yet joined the treaty, MSP set a specific time limit of elimination in anticipation of their ratification in future. This will be one of the indicators to move towards “a world without nuclear weapons,” the treaty’s goal.
Decision on the time limit of total elimination was one of the key agenda topics in the states parties meeting. If the nuclear state cannot eliminate all of its nuclear weapons within ten years after its participation in TPNW, the state in question will be allowed to extend the deadline by additional five years at the maximum. In that case, however, a detailed explanation must be given about a reason for extension. So, the ratifying nuclear nation is basically required to follow the 10-year time limit. Also, if a nation hosting another nation’s nuclear weapons in its territory joins the treaty, such a nation will be given a 90-day limit to remove those weapons.
The Republic of South Africa proposed the time limits. In the 1970s, the country began development of nuclear weapons and once produced six nuclear arsenals. But all were dismantled and removed by 1990.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the number of nuclear warheads in the world is 12,705 as of January, this year. Russia has the largest number at 5,977, followed by 5,428 by the U.S., whose nuclear warheads are also deployed in the nations of Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, part of the Northern Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance. Those nations are attending MSP as observers.
On June 22 and 23, the TPNW States Parties Meeting discussed concrete measures for the removal of nuclear weapons, assistance to nuclear victims, and promotion of additional nations’ participation in TPNW. The deadline for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons held by ratifying nuclear nations was decided at midnight on June 22, Japan time. Lastly, the meeting is expected to adopt the “Vienna Declaration” to show its resolution towards the elimination of nuclear weapons. The declaration draft has urged all nuclear states not to use nuclear weapons or threaten to use them irrespective of the circumstances, based on the recent threat by Russia to use nuclear weapons.
(Originally published on June 24, 2022)
VIENNA- On June 22, the first meeting of states parties (MSP) to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which is in session from June 21 through 23 in Vienna, Austria, determined that a nuclear state will be required to eliminate all of its nuclear weapons within ten years if the state is to participate in TPNW. Though nuclear nations such as the United States haven’t yet joined the treaty, MSP set a specific time limit of elimination in anticipation of their ratification in future. This will be one of the indicators to move towards “a world without nuclear weapons,” the treaty’s goal.
Decision on the time limit of total elimination was one of the key agenda topics in the states parties meeting. If the nuclear state cannot eliminate all of its nuclear weapons within ten years after its participation in TPNW, the state in question will be allowed to extend the deadline by additional five years at the maximum. In that case, however, a detailed explanation must be given about a reason for extension. So, the ratifying nuclear nation is basically required to follow the 10-year time limit. Also, if a nation hosting another nation’s nuclear weapons in its territory joins the treaty, such a nation will be given a 90-day limit to remove those weapons.
The Republic of South Africa proposed the time limits. In the 1970s, the country began development of nuclear weapons and once produced six nuclear arsenals. But all were dismantled and removed by 1990.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the number of nuclear warheads in the world is 12,705 as of January, this year. Russia has the largest number at 5,977, followed by 5,428 by the U.S., whose nuclear warheads are also deployed in the nations of Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, part of the Northern Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance. Those nations are attending MSP as observers.
On June 22 and 23, the TPNW States Parties Meeting discussed concrete measures for the removal of nuclear weapons, assistance to nuclear victims, and promotion of additional nations’ participation in TPNW. The deadline for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons held by ratifying nuclear nations was decided at midnight on June 22, Japan time. Lastly, the meeting is expected to adopt the “Vienna Declaration” to show its resolution towards the elimination of nuclear weapons. The declaration draft has urged all nuclear states not to use nuclear weapons or threaten to use them irrespective of the circumstances, based on the recent threat by Russia to use nuclear weapons.
(Originally published on June 24, 2022)
