The US is urging countries that have ratified a UN treaty that bans nuclear weapons to withdraw their support for the pact. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) is approaching ratifications from 50 countries, which is needed to bring the treaty into force.
The TPNW requires all ratifying countries “never under any circumstances … develop, test, produce, manufacture, otherwise acquire, possess or stockpile nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.” The TPNW also bans the transfer or use of nuclear weapons and requires its participants to promote the treaty to other countries.
The Associated Press obtained the US letter to the signatories of the treaty. The letter says Washington’s NATO allies and the five original nuclear powers, the US, Russia, China, France, and the UK, all “stand unified in our opposition to the potential repercussions” of the TPNW.
The letter says the TPNW “turns back the clock on verification and disarmament” and says it threatens the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). The NPT was created to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons beyond the original five powers in exchange for those powers to reduce their arsenals.
“Although we recognize your sovereign right to ratify or accede to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, we believe that you have made a strategic error and should withdraw your instrument of ratification or accession,” the letter reads.
The Associated Press spoke with Beatrice Fihn, the executive director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, about Washington’s letter. Fihn dismissed the claim in the letter that the TPNW would interfere with the decades-old NPT as “straightforward lies, to be frank.”
“They have no actual argument to back that up,” Fihn said. “The Nonproliferation Treaty is about preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and eliminating nuclear weapons, and this treaty implements that. There’s no way you can undermine the Nonproliferation Treaty by banning nuclear weapons. It’s the end goal of the Nonproliferation Treaty.”
How does pledging to ban nuclear weapons harm the campaign to eliminate nuclear weapons, even in Trumpistan?
None of the countries that actually matter actually support this treaty. It is childish pie in the sky, much like the Kellog-Briand Pact that supposedly outlawed war. How did that work out?
Since it’s essentially pointless – and I agree that it is – what’s the point of going out of their way to attack it?
Off the top of my head they wouldn’t want to denied port of call visits for their nuclear armed ships, nor would they want to be cut off from uranium ore from these countries. (I’m sure Russia would LOvE to stop getting ore from Kazakhstan). There’s also the principle that major powers don’t get lectured to by the peanut gallery.
“There’s also the principle that major powers don’t get lectured to by the peanut gallery.”
Sure, a principle of the major powers.
In the real world that’s the sort of principle that matters. But go on believing Mozambique’s opinion means anything.
If the opinions of nclear powers is so strong, how do you explain their huge minority status? Ya,Ya, I know, they are the deciders? But are they when it’s the WHOLE SC , votes…?? & not just the permanent members….???*? Maybe a change will cum where the permanent members are not the deciders on such policies!!! But the minority!!’
I already agreed. To the major powers it is the only principle that matters.
All Countries Matter.
No. No they don’t.
Because proceeding towards nuclear abolition would destroy the real purpose of the NPT for the US government: continuing to weild the nuclear club to threaten any nation that might dare aspire for equality and security from US aggression.
meanwhile uncle samuel has just finished final adjustments on his 40,000th nuclear weapon. work begins tomorrow on # 40,001.
nukes 4 no 1
The non nukes countries got their answer. Every one of them should start thinking about joining the exclusive club.
Nukes for all or none. Not like now when the Supremecist states have them, and keep other states from even deterrent nukes….!!!!! It’s an ugly reality we and our little postage stamp buddy keep liberation at bay with out nukes….. Won’t last too much longer.. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So US and Israel have no problem for Iran/N.Korea to develop a nuclear deterrents?
In your dreams or nightmares depending on your mindset on proliferation. AND ROGUE Nuclear states like Israel
Get your self a pair of glasses and read and try to understand my comments again. They were in the interrogative as was clearly shown. If you have done that try to reply in an intelligent way, if you can, of course.