Bhutan
Bhutan voted in favour of adopting the TPNW at the UN Diplomatic Conference in 2017, but has not yet adhered to the Treaty. Bhutan 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 (33%) |
| 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 | No |
| Ratified the CTBT | No |
| 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
Bhutan has consistently voted in favour of the UN General Assembly resolutions on the TPNW in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Bhutan aligned itself with a statement on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in First Committee of the 2020 UN General Assembly, which said that 'NAM welcomes multilateral efforts towards nuclear disarmament and the total elimination of nuclear weapons. Moreover, NAM takes note of the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons on 7 July 2017. It is hoped that, when entered into force, the Treaty would contribute to furthering the agreed global objective of total elimination of nuclear weapons.' See: bit.ly/3kSkWGC.
Recommendations
- Bhutan should urgently sign and ratify the TPNW, and encourage other states to adhere to the Treaty.
- Bhutan should conclude and bring into force an Additional Protocol (AP) with the IAEA. Bhutan should also sign and ratify the CTBT.