Region praised for signing treaty to ban nuclear tests

Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) states have been widely praised for signing and ratifying the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), effectively achieving universal adherence to the treaty across the entire region.

While many countries are making use of the treaty’s data, there is still great potential for others to tap into its civil and scientific benefits, especially to strengthen their preparedness for natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions.

CARICOM’s Assistant Secretary General (Foreign and Community Relations), Elizabeth Solomon, was among the officials making those points during the opening of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation’s (CTBTO) regional workshop at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingston, Jamaica, on Thursday.

“The imperative for the prohibition on nuclear weapons testing, use and proliferation has never been more pressing at any time in this century. The politicallyfraught, climate-changing landscape that we are called on to navigate, and the escalation of conflicts, directly or indirectly involving states in possession of nuclear weapons, have amplified concerns regarding the potential use of these weapons.

Regional security

“This is an anathema to the Caribbean Community. We have retained, and continue to do, everything in our individual and collective power to maintain this regain as a Zone of Peace. The CTBT contributes to regional security by reinforcing the global norm against nuclear testing,” she said.

Since the treaty was open for signature in 1996, all 33 states in the LAC region have signed and ratified it, with Dominica being the most recent in 2022. The CTBT prohibits all nuclear test explosions and is supported by a global verification regime. The International Monitoring System (IMS) plays a key role in ensuring that no nuclear test goes undetected.

The IMS uses four technologies – seismic, hydroacoustic, infrasound and infrasound. In addition to detecting nuclear explosions, CTBT also has other civil and scientific uses that could save lives and contribute to sustainable development and knowledge expansion.

Solomon also acknowledged the additional capabilities.

“Also of keen interest to CARICOM is the scientific and civil applications of the data managed by CTBTO, which we believe is an opportunity for collaboration. Given our vulnerability to a host of natural disasters, exacerbated by climate change, access to seismic data and joint efforts in tsunami warning systems and volcanic activity detection could be invaluable for coastal and other vulnerable communities.

“The successful tsunami warning models established with Chile, Honduras and Venezuela provide a valuable framework for replication across our region and are worth exploring,” she added.

She highlighted the significance of the CTBTO’s National Data Centres-for-All initiative (NDCs4All) and its critical capacity-building component.

“Small Island Developing States (SIDS), such as those in CARICOM, often suffer from human resource capacity constraints that impede our ability to effectively implement international obligations. This initiative is therefore highly welcomed as it directly addresses knowledge and capacity gaps related to the CTBT. We anticipate that this will expand the network of National Data Centres throughout the CARICOM region,” she said.

The two-day workshop was attended by over 60 diplomats, scientific experts and youth advocates who engaged in discussions aimed at reinforcing global nuclear non-proliferation efforts. The CTBTO also sponsored journalists from the region to attend and cover the workshop.

Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, Secretary General of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in LAC (OPANAL) Flavio Roberto Bonzanini, and CTBTO’s executive secretary Dr

Robert Floyd also spoke during the opening.

Floyd said that 187 states from around the world have signed the treaty and 178 have ratified it. However, he said that it is not in force.

For the CTBT to enter into force, it requires ratification by all 44 Annex 2 states which were identified as nuclear-capable during the treaty’s negotiation.

Signing expresses a state’s initial intent to comply, while ratification is the formal act by which a state legally binds itself to the treaty’s terms after internal procedures are followed.

China, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Russia and the United States have signed but not ratified it, while North Korea, India and Pakistan have not signed or ratified the treaty.

Financial contributions

However, many of these countries actively support the work of the CTBTO through political, technical and financial contributions, playing an important role in its continued progress and success.

Floyd told the gathering: “Before September 24, 1996, when the treaty opened for signature, there were over 2 000 nuclear tests. From that date to today there were ten tests. That is success and you all have a part to play.”

He also praised the achievements of the IMS and encouraged all states to make full use of its valuable resources and capabilities.

“The IMS works and every country in the world knows they cannot test and deny it because the data will show,” he said.

“We hear threats of possible use of nuclear weapons. We hear threats and suggestions of returning to testing, something that would absolutely not be in the interest of any country. We see the accumulation of large amounts of enriched uranium for purposes that are difficult to understand.

“Let us turn our anxiety, a possible crisis, into an opportunity and let us continue to work together to protect the wonderful treaty that we have. The amazing monitoring system that works so well . . . we have to aspire to a better world and maybe even see the CTBT enter into force,” he stressed.

During his presentation, Bonzanini said LAC countries have long been pioneers in advancing a world free of nuclear weapons.

“Almost six decades ago, our region made history with the Treaty of Tlatelolco – the first treaty to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in a densely-populated area. The Treaty of Tlatelolco was a ground-breaking achievement that not only prohibited nuclear weapons and nuclear testing in our region, but also laid the foundation for subsequent nuclear-weaponfree zones around the world,” he said.

Johnson Smith applauded the CTBTO for including the youth.

“A critical part of our discussion must be the role of the youth in advancing the disarmament agenda. As we work to maintain the region as a zone of peace and to encourage peace in the wider world, it is imperative that we empower the next generation to carry forward the principles of non-proliferation and security,” she said. (TG)

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