Nuclear abolition in the wake of the
Russia/Ukraine conflict
Abolition 2000 annual meeting demonstrates the strength, resilience
and breadth of the global nuclear disarmament movement
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Dear friends,
The global nuclear disarmament movement is alive, active, diverse and inspiring – judging by the annual meeting on Saturday of Abolition 2000, the global civil society network for the elimination of nuclear weapons.
Nuclear disarmament activists from around the world joined to share campaigns and discuss nuclear disarmament strategy in the new political environment, in particular, in light of the Russia/Ukraine war. The meeting also served to build further cooperation amongst peace and disarmament organizations, networks and activists.
Key initiatives discussed include:
In addition, the multitude of reports from Abolition 2000 working groups and affiliated networks - including a report on the activities of UNFOLD ZERO - demonstrate the strength, resilience and breadth of the global nuclear disarmament movement.
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NWC Reset:
Proposal for States Parties of the NPT to start negotiations on a NWC, framework agreement or protocols to the TPNW
In 2021, Abolition 2000 launched a new initiative to engage the nuclear armed and allied states in establishing a framework to achieve the global elimination of nuclear weapons. The first step was to explore elements for such a framework and modalities that might be acceptable to nuclear armed/allied states. This includes options of a nuclear weapons convention, a framework agreement or protocols to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
The outcome of this process, including recommendations to the 10th NPT Review Conference, can be found in Abolition 2000 NWC Reset: Frameworks for a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World, a working paper submitted to the NPT review Conference. The ideas and recommendations will be further advanced at the NPT through an online side event on August 9.
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Fulfil the NPT: From nuclear threats to human security
This Open Letter to the States Parties to the NPT, was initiated by the Abolition 2000 Nuclear-Risk Reduction Working Group and the NoFirstUse Global campaign.
The Open Letter calls on the NPT States Parties to commit at the 10th Review conference to immediately adopt nuclear risk-reduction measures including no-first-use policies, cease the manufacture of nuclear weapons no later than 2025 and achieve the total elimination of nuclear weapons no later than the 2045,.
The Open Letter is already endorsed by more than 1400 influential people, including the President of the 2010 NPT Review conference, the Head of the US Delegation to the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference, the former Commander of the French Air Force, a former UK Nuclear Submarine Commander, former Foreign Ministers and Ambassadors from nuclear reliant countries, Nobel Laureates, religious leaders, legislators, scientists/academics, leaders of civil society organizations and others.
It will be presented to the NPT Review Conference during the August 5 plenary session.
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Nuclear disarmament solution:
A NATO nuclear trade-off to end the Russia/Ukraine war?
On July 19, The Hill published Nuclear strategy and ending the war in Ukraine, a very interesting article by Oscar Arias, Nobel Peace Laureate and former President of Costa Rica; and Jonathan Granoff, Basel Peace Office Board Member and President of the Global Security Institute.
Mr Arias and Mr Granoff propose that the United States and NATO "plan and prepare for withdrawal of all U.S. nuclear warheads from Europe and Turkey" as a way to "get Putin’s attention and bring him to the negotiating table" and possibly agree to end the war.
It's a very interesting and bold proposal that found general support at the Abolition 2000 meeting. It would allow Putin a way to end the invasion by claiming domestically (to Russians) that he had scored a victory - the elimination of US nuclear weapons in Europe. At the same time it would not diminish the security of NATO countries which ascribe to nuclear deterrence, as such deterrence does not rely on the US nuclear weapons being based in Europe.
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"NATO’s nuclear arsenal failed to deter Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has almost no utility as a weapon of war. But NATO’s nuclear weapons can still be put to good use, not by threatening to launch them and escalate the war, but by withdrawing them to make room for new negotiations and eventual peace."
Jonathan Granoff and Oscar Arias, co-authors of Nuclear Strategy and ending the war in Ukraine.
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Breadth and depth of Abolition 2000:
Working group and affiliate reports
If you want to learn about the various actions and initiatives in the global nuclear abolition movement, and how you can get involved or build cooperation, we recommend you read the short (700 word) reports from the working groups and affiliated campaigns/networks. Below are some of them. For all reports see Abolition 2000 AGM page.
Working groups:
Special Report: Nuclear Weapons and UN Human Rights Bodies
Affiliated Networks:
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Yours sincerely
UNFOLD ZERO
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