Bahamas
The Bahamas voted in favour of adopting the TPNW at the UN Diplomatic Conference in 2017, but has not yet adhered to the Treaty. The Bahamas maintains policies and practices that are compliant with all of the prohibitions in Article 1 of the Treaty, and can therefore sign and ratify it without making changes to existing practices or policies.
| TPNW status |
|---|
| Not signed, not ratified, not acceded |
| Compatibility with prohibitions in TPNW Article 1(1) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Art 1(1)(a) | Develop, produce, manufacture, acquire | Compatible |
| Test | Compatible | |
| Possess or stockpile | Compatible | |
| Art 1(1)(b) | Transfer | Compatible |
| Art 1(1)(c) | Receive transfer or control | Compatible |
| Art 1(1)(d) | Use | Compatible |
| Threaten to use | Compatible | |
| Art 1(1)(e) | Assist, encourage or induce | Compatible |
| Art 1(1)(f) | Seek or receive assistance | Compatible |
| Art 1(1)(g) | Allow stationing, installation, deployment | Compatible |
| TPNW voting and participation | |
|---|---|
| Vote on negotiation mandate (A/RES/71/258) | Voted yes |
| Participated in treaty negotiations (% women) | Yes (75%) |
| Vote on adoption of treaty text | Voted yes |
| Last vote on UNGA resolution | Voted yes |
| Fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Fissile material production facilities | No |
| Highly enriched uranium stocks | No |
| Plutonium stocks (military/civilian) | No/No |
| Related treaties and regimes | |
|---|---|
| Party to the NPT | Yes |
| Party to a NWFZ | Yes (Tlatelolco) |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes |
| Party to the PTBT | Yes |
| Member of the CD | No |
| IAEA CSA in force | Yes |
| IAEA AP in force | No |
| Party to the CWC | Yes |
| Party to the BWC | Yes |
Latest developments
The Bahamas has consistently voted in favour of the UN General Assembly resolutions on the TPNW in 2018, 2019, and 2020. In First Committee of the 2020 UN General Assembly, the Bahamas stated that '[a]s a committed party to the Treaty of Tlateloco, which established Latin America and the Caribbean as the first Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone, we understand that it is important not only to lead by example, but to also build on achievements made. The Bahamas, therefore, has been encouraged by the signatures and ratifications, several of which represent Caribbean States, of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and hopes to be in a position to join on to the Treaty, following the completion of internal review.' See: bit.ly/3lP4qbO.
Recommendations
- The Bahamas should urgently sign and ratify the TPNW, and encourage other states to adhere to the Treaty.
- The Bahamas should conclude and bring into force an Additional Protocol (AP) with the IAEA.