Argentina
Argentina is the only Latin American state that has not yet signed the TPNW. In a statement marking the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons on 26 September 2023, Argentina reaffirmed its commitment to the ‘goal of general, irreversible, transparent and verifiable nuclear disarmament’ and reiterated its ‘deep concern about the threat to humanity posed by the existence, use and threat of use of nuclear weapons’.[1]
TPNW Status
| TPNW Article 1(1) prohibitions: Compatibility in 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Develop, produce, manufacture, acquire | Compatible |
| Test | Compatible | |
| Possess or stockpile | Compatible | |
| (b) | Transfer | Compatible |
| (c) | Receive transfer or control | Compatible |
| (d) | Use | Compatible |
| Threaten to use | Compatible | |
| (e) | Assist, encourage or induce | Compatible |
| (f) | Seek or receive assistance | Compatible |
| (g) | Allow stationing, installation, deployment | Compatible |
| TPNW voting and participation | |
|---|---|
| UNGA resolution on TPNW (latest vote) | Abstained (2023) |
| Participated in 2MSP (2023) | No |
| 1MSP delegation size (% women) | N/A |
| Adoption of TPNW (7 July 2017) | Voted yes |
| Participated in TPNW negotiations (2017) | Yes |
| Negotiation mandate (A/RES/71/258) | Voted yes |
| Other weapons of mass destruction (WMD) treaties | |
|---|---|
| Party to an NWFZ | Yes (Ratified 1994, Tlatelolco) |
| Party to the NPT | Yes (Acceded 1995) |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes (Ratified 1998, Annex 2 state) |
| Party to the BWC | Yes (Ratified 1979) |
| Party to the CWC | Yes (Ratified 1995) |
| IAEA safeguards and fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Safeguards agreement | Yes (4 Mar 1994) |
| TPNW Art 3(2) deadline | N/A |
| Small Quantities Protocol | No |
| Additional Protocol | No |
| Enrichment facilities/reprocessing plants | Yes (Civ) |
| HEU stocks | Cleared |
| Plutonium stocks | No |
Latest developments
Argentina maintains policies and practices that are compatible with all of the prohibitions in Article 1 of the TPNW, and can therefore sign and ratify or accede to the Treaty without the need for a change in conduct.
In the First Committee of the UN General Assembly in October 2023, Argentina said that, as it is not a signatory to the TPNW, it would continue to abstain from voting on the annual resolution on the TPNW, which ‘makes a strong appeal for signature and ratification’ of the Treaty. It described the NPT as the ‘central element’ of the non-proliferation and disarmament regime, and said that the TPNW or any other future instrument in this area ‘should strengthen the NPT, avoiding duplication or generating parallel regimes on provisions that already are consolidated or broadly accepted in the framework of the NPT’.2
In July 2023, as part of the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review process, Argentina 'noted' a recommendation to sign and ratify the TPNW.3 (A/HRC/53/5/Add.1)
Recommendations
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Argentina should comply with its existing obligation under Article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and pursue negotiations in good faith on nuclear disarmament.
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Argentina should urgently adhere to the TPNW. Until it is in a position to do so, it should welcome the TPNW as a valuable component in the global disarmament and non-proliferation architecture, work with the Treaty's states parties on practical steps towards disarmament, and attend the meetings of states parties as an observer.
-
Argentina should conclude and bring into force an Additional Protocol with the IAEA.
1) https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/other/IDTENW/2023/Argentina.pdf
2) https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1x/k1x4vcfxbn?kalturaStartTime=3543
3 A/HRC/53/5/Add.1