Global Push for Nuclear Disarmament Gains Momentum as Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan Act
The global push for nuclear disarmament gained momentum this week. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan took significant steps towards the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), while the UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern over a new nuclear arms race.
ICAN's UN Liaison Seth Shelden praised Kazakhstan's role in promoting the TPNW and its compatibility with the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan's Deputy Foreign Minister Akan Rakhmetullin emphasised the urgent need for collective action on nuclear disarmament.
In a significant development, Kyrgyzstan became the 99th country to sign the TPNW, and Ghana formally deposited its instrument of ratification. This brings the total number of signatories to over 90 and ratifications to over 70, predominantly from non-nuclear weapon states across Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.
ICAN's Executive Director Melissa Parke challenged the dominance of nuclear-armed states and their reliance on deterrence. She highlighted that the TPNW, which bans the use, development, possession, and testing of nuclear arms, now has a majority of countries as either signatories or parties.
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned of a new nuclear arms race and the danger of nuclear sabre-rattling. He stressed the importance of disarmament, which has been a top priority for the UN since its inception in 1946.
With around 12,241 nuclear weapons remaining in place worldwide, these recent developments underscore the growing international support for the TPNW. As more countries join the treaty, pressure mounts on nuclear-armed states to engage in meaningful disarmament talks.
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