There have been several recent developments in the quest for global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, including:
1. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons: In July 2017, 122 countries adopted the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which prohibits the development, testing, production, stockpiling, use, threat of use, or possession of nuclear weapons. However, none of the nine countries known to possess nuclear weapons signed the treaty.
2. New START Treaty: In February 2021, the US and Russia agreed to extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), which limits the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems. The extension will last until 2026, providing more time for negotiation of a new treaty.
3. Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference: The NPT Review Conference, which takes place every five years, was scheduled for 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is now scheduled to be held in August 2021, where countries will discuss progress made towards the goals of the NPT, including nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
4. Iran Nuclear Deal: In April 2021, talks resumed between Iran and the P5+1 (China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States, and Germany) to revive the Iran nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The JCPOA was signed in 2015 and aimed to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for lifting economic sanctions. The US withdrew from the deal in 2018, and Iran has since resumed some nuclear activities.
5. North Korea: North Korea continues to develop its nuclear program, in violation of international agreements. The US and North Korea have held several rounds of negotiations, but have not yet reached an agreement on denuclearization.