Latest developments
France voted against the UN General Assembly resolutions on the TPNW in 2018, 2019, and 2020. In an Explanation of Vote on the TPNW resolution in 2019, France, together with the United States and the United Kingdom, said that they are 'firmly opposed' to the TPNW. They asserted that '[n]uclear deterrence is essential to international security' and argued that the TPNW 'denies this reality.' In July 2018, an information mission set up by the parliamentary foreign affairs commission concluded that France should 'mitigate its criticism' of the TPNW 'and the countries that have contributed to its adoption, to show that we understand and take into account the concerns of States and their desire for more balanced global governance.' Paris and a dozen other French cities have joined ICAN's Cities Appeal. See: bit.ly/2UNUuDt, bit.ly/2krrvX.
Recommendations
- France should acknowledge that nuclear deterrence is not a sustainable solution for its own or international security, and that any perceived benefits are far outweighed by the risk of nuclear accidents or war. It should move rapidly to verifiably reduce and eliminate its nuclear arsenal.
- France should urgently sign and ratify the TPNW, and encourage other states to adhere to the Treaty. Until it is in a position to do so, it should welcome the TPNW as a valuable contribution to the global disarmament and non-proliferation architecture, attend its meetings of states parties as an observer, and work with its states parties on practical steps towards disarmament.
- France should implement in good faith its obligations under Article VI of the NPT. It should conclude and bring into force a full Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA) and Additional Protocol (AP) with the IAEA.
