Dominican Republic
In a statement marking the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons on 26 September 2023, the Dominican Republic encouraged ‘States that have not yet done so to adhere to the [TPNW], with a view to its universalisation, as it is a complement to the NPT and an important milestone in the search for the total elimination of nuclear weapons’.[1]
TPNW Status
| TPNW Article 1(1) prohibitions: Compliance in 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Develop, produce, manufacture, acquire | Compliant |
| Test | Compliant | |
| Possess or stockpile | Compliant | |
| (b) | Transfer | Compliant |
| (c) | Receive transfer or control | Compliant |
| (d) | Use | Compliant |
| Threaten to use | Compliant | |
| (e) | Assist, encourage or induce | Compliant |
| (f) | Seek or receive assistance | Compliant |
| (g) | Allow stationing, installation, deployment | Compliant |
| TPNW voting and participation | |
|---|---|
| UNGA resolution on TPNW (latest vote) | Voted yes (2023) |
| Participated in 2MSP (2023) | Yes |
| 1MSP delegation size (% women) | 3 (100%) |
| 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 1968, Tlatelolco) |
| Party to the NPT | Yes (Ratified 1971) |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes (Ratified 2007) |
| Party to the BWC | Yes (Ratified 1973) |
| Party to the CWC | Yes (Ratified 2009) |
| IAEA safeguards and fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Safeguards agreement | Yes (11 Oct 1973) |
| TPNW Art 3(2) deadline | N/A |
| Small Quantities Protocol | Yes (Modified) |
| Additional Protocol | Yes |
| Enrichment facilities/reprocessing plants | No |
| HEU stocks | No |
| Plutonium stocks | No |
Latest developments
The Dominican Republic participated in the Second Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW (2MSP) in November and December 2023, describing it as ‘a new opportunity to institutionalise and further strengthen this important monitoring mechanism in the face of the challenge posed by the potential use or threat of nuclear weapons’. It welcomed the progress made in implementing the Vienna Action Plan that was adopted in 2022.2
In accordance with Article 2 of the TPNW, the Dominican Republic submitted a declaration to the UN Secretary-General on 22 November 2023 confirming that it does not own, possess or control nuclear weapons, has never done so, and does not host any other State’s nuclear weapons on its territory.3
The Dominican Republic was one of the co-sponsors for the 2023 UN General Assembly resolution on the TPNW, which called upon ‘all States that have not yet done so to sign, ratify, accept, approve or accede to the Treaty at the earliest possible date’.4
Recommendations
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The Dominican Republic should submit its declaration under Article 2 of the TPNW to the UN Secretary-General without further delay.
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The Dominican Republic should continue to encourage other states to adhere to the TPNW.
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The Dominican Republic should ensure that all the TPNW obligations are implemented domestically, through legal, administrative, and other necessary measures.