Taking stock of global nuclear disarmament

September 26 marks the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. This year, the UN General Assembly will discuss the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), a significant topic amidst global divisions over various conflicts and crises. The discussions are particularly relevant for countries like India that have opted out of the TPNW, as their responses may influence the future of nuclear disarmament efforts.

Understanding the TPNW

• Objectives and Provisions: The TPNW, effective since 2021, prohibits signatories from developing, testing, or using nuclear weapons, extending beyond the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). While the NPT focuses on preventing proliferation and promises disarmament, it lacks explicit prohibitions on the use of nuclear weapons.
• Origins and Support: The TPNW emerged from a humanitarian initiative highlighting the severe impacts of nuclear weapons on health and the environment. Although it has gained support from 70 states, its effectiveness is challenged by the absence of nuclear weapon states and their allies, who remain “persistent objectors” to the treaty.
• Reactions to Nuclear Threats: Recent global tensions, including Russia’s nuclear posturing and Iran's uranium enrichment, have reignited discussions about nuclear risks. Influential voices from former NATO leaders are advocating for their countries to join the TPNW, seeking to establish a legal framework that treats nuclear weapons similarly to chemical and biological weapons.

India’s Position and Implications

• India's Non-Signature of the NPT: India has not signed the NPT, viewing it as discriminatory and contrary to its national interests. Despite not being a signatory, India has benefited from the NPT's role in limiting nuclear proliferation, maintaining a policy of abstention without actively undermining the treaty.
• Navigating the TPNW: India and other nuclear possessors face the challenge of remaining outside the TPNW while not opposing it. The TPNW’s lack of robust enforcement mechanisms presents challenges, but its potential to delegitimize nuclear deterrence and possession could reshape international norms.
• Long-Term Prospects for Disarmament: The TPNW's success in stigmatizing nuclear weapons akin to chemical and biological weapons would enhance global safety. Although this change won't occur immediately, the treaty could catalyze a necessary dialogue about the roles and effectiveness of nuclear weapons in contemporary security contexts.

Practice Question

Q. Evaluate the implications of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) for global nuclear disarmament efforts, particularly in light of the positions of nuclear-armed states like India and the current geopolitical landscape.