Jean du Preez, Independent consultant

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This article refers to:

The strategic elimination of nuclear weapons: an alternative global agenda for nuclear disarmament

Notes

1 The NAC is a loose coalition comprising six geographically diverse NNWS (Egypt, Brazil, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa), established in 1998 in response to the lack of progress on nuclear disarmament leading to the total elimination of nuclear weapons. The NAC played a significant role in achieving a negotiated outcome of the 2000 NPT Review Conference, including the agreement on the “13 practical steps” toward the elimination of nuclear weapons.

2 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the NPT, Final Document, Volume I, NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II), p. 14, <https://unoda-web.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/assets/WMD/Nuclear/pdf/finaldocs/2000%20-%20NY%20-%20NPT%20Review%20Conference%20-%20Final%20Document%20Parts%20I%20and%20II.pdf>.

3 Under the NPT’s Article VI, each state party “undertakes to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control.” This implied linkage between nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament represents one of the most explicit dividing lines between NNWS and NWS. Despite breaking this political linkage at the 2000 Review Conference, NWS still hold the view that nuclear weapons provide security and that there should be parity between nuclear and conventional forces. The “undiminished security for all” principle was affirmed in step 9 of the 13 steps. See ibid., p. 15.

4 See UKNI website: <https://ukni.info>.

5 In accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/71/67, December 5, 2016.