Egypt
Egypt observed the Second Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW (2MSP) in November and December 2023, where it said: ‘We acknowledge the progress achieved, thus far, under the banner of the TPNW. The entry into force of the Treaty was accomplished in a record time and the number of signatories and parties continues to increase. The rest of the international community needs to positively engage with the work of the Treaty.’ Egypt also reiterated its ‘keenness to continue to positively engage with a Treaty and a platform whose principles and objectives enjoy our full support’.
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) | Voted yes (2023) |
| Participated in 2MSP (2023) | Yes (observer) |
| 1MSP delegation size (% women) | 2 (0%) |
| 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 | No (Signed 1996, Pelindaba) |
| Party to the NPT | Yes (Ratified 1981) |
| Ratified the CTBT | No (Signed 1996, Annex 2 state) |
| Party to the BWC | No (Signed 1972) |
| Party to the CWC | No |
| IAEA safeguards and fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Safeguards agreement | Yes (30 Jun 1982) |
| TPNW Art 3(2) deadline | N/A |
| Small Quantities Protocol | No |
| Additional Protocol | No |
| Enrichment facilities/reprocessing plants | No |
| HEU stocks | No |
| Plutonium stocks | No |
Latest developments
Egypt 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.
At 2MSP, Egypt also said it ‘actively participated in the negotiations leading to the elaboration of the draft of this Treaty, voted in favour of its adoption, and supported every UN resolution that championed it and advocated for its purposes’. ‘We regard the TPNW as a complementary endeavour [to the NPT] that provides an opportunity to seek the practical implementation of Article VI of the NPT.’ It also described recent comments by an Israeli government minister on the possibility of ‘dropping nuclear weapons on Gaza strip and its entire civilian population’ as ‘outrageous and shocking’, and urged TPNW States parties to condemn them. ‘We are keen to keep ourselves well informed about the deliberations and outcomes of this promising track under the umbrella of the [TPNW],’ it said. ‘A discussion which premises itself on the humanitarian and ethical imperative of the prohibition of nuclear weapons and their total elimination is a ray of light’.2
Egypt 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.
Recommendations
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Egypt should urgently adhere to the TPNW.
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Egypt should conclude and bring into force an Additional Protocol with the IAEA.
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Egypt should ratify the Pelindaba NWFZ Treaty, which it signed in 1996.
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Egypt should also ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), and adhere to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).