Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein attended as an observer the First Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW (1MSP) in Vienna in June 2022, but did not make a statement.
TPNW Status
| TPNW Article 1(1) prohibitions: Compliance in 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| (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 1MSP (2022) | Observer |
| 1MSP delegation size (% women) | 1 (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 |
| Party to the NPT | Yes (Acceded 1978) |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes (Ratified 2004) |
| Party to the BWC | Yes (Acceded 1991) |
| Party to the CWC | Yes (Ratified 1999) |
| IAEA safeguards and fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Safeguards agreement | Yes |
| TPNW Art 3(2) deadline | N/A |
| Small Quantities Protocol | No |
| Additional Protocol | Yes |
| Enrichment facilities/reprocessing plants | No |
| HEU stocks | No |
| Plutonium stocks | No |
Latest developments
In December 2022, in response to an inquiry from the Nuclear Weapons Ban Monitor about the status of Liechtenstein’s ratification process for the TPNW, the foreign ministry referred to a letter that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Hasler, sent to ICAN one year earlier, in which she wrote that ‘Liechtenstein forms a Customs Union with Switzerland and certain Swiss laws apply to Liechtenstein. Those laws include areas falling under the purview of the TPNW. Due to this circumstance we have to await the finalisation of the domestic processes in Switzerland before a ratification can take place. However, we will be monitoring the process and I can assure you that Liechtenstein will continue to strive for ratification in due time.’1
At the Tenth Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in August 2022, Liechtenstein spoke of its participation in the 1MSP and noted that it ‘strongly supports’ the Treaty.2
Referring to the ongoing war in Ukraine, Liechtenstein said in the First Committee of the UN General Assembly in October 2022 that Russia’s actions have ‘brought home in stark terms that the risk of the use of nuclear weapons is indeed real’ and ‘so long as they exist, such weapons will never make the world a safer place’. It added that this understanding ‘is the animating force behind the [TPNW], which strengthens the NPT framework in defining new and concrete perspectives for nuclear disarmament. We hope that more states will join the Treaty.'3
Recommendations
- Liechtenstein should urgently ratify the TPNW.
1) Email to the Nuclear Weapons Ban Monitor from N. Schmid, Deputy Secretary General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Education and Sport, Principality of Liechtenstein, 13 December 2022.