Marshall Islands
The Marshall Islands voted in favour of adopting the TPNW at the UN Diplomatic Conference on 7 July 2017, but has not yet signed or ratified it. The Marshall Islands’ hosting of US missile tests at Kwajalein Atoll means that it is not in compliance with the TPNW’s prohibition on assisting illegal activities relating to nuclear weapons.
Latest developments and background
The Marshall Islands abstained on the UN General Assembly resolution on the TPNW in 2018. The Marshall Islands’ foreign minister John Silk has said that his government cannot back the TPNW without US involvement, but has also communicated that ongoing internal consultations have prompted the government to take more time for consideration before joining the Treaty (The Marshall Islands Journal, vol. 49, no. 44 (2 November 2018)).
Recommendations
- The Marshall Islands should urgently sign and ratify the TPNW, and encourage other states to adhere to the Treaty.
- The Marshall Islands should request that the United States cease the testing of nuclear-capable missiles at Kwajalein Atoll.
| Signed |
|---|
| No |
| Adhered |
|---|
| No |
| Compliance with article 1(1) of the TPNW | ||
|---|---|---|
| Art 1(1)(a) | The prohibition on developing, producing, manufacturing, or otherwise acquiring | Compliant |
| The prohibition on testing | Compliant | |
| The prohibition on possessing or stockpiling | Compliant | |
| Art 1(1)(b) | The prohibition on transferring | Compliant |
| Art 1(1)(c) | The prohibition on receiving transfer or control | Compliant |
| Art 1(1)(d) | The prohibition on using | Compliant |
| The prohibition on threatening to use | Compliant | |
| Art 1(1)(e) | The prohibition on assisting prohibited activities | Not compliant |
| The prohibition on encouraging or inducing prohibited activities | Compliant | |
| Art 1(1)(f) | The prohibition on encouraging or inducing prohibited activities | Compliant |
| Art 1(1)(g) | The prohibition on allowing stationing, installation, or deployment | Compliant |
| TPNW process | |
|---|---|
| Vote on mandate resolution (A/RES/71/258) | Voted yes |
| Participated in treaty negotiations (% women) | Yes (50%) |
| Vote on adoption of treaty text | Voted yes |
| Vote on UNGA resolution 2018 | Abstained |
| Fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Highly enriched uranium stocks | No |
| Civilian plutonium stocks | |
| Fissile material production | No |
| Related treaties and mechanisms | |
|---|---|
| Party to the NPT | Yes |
| Party to a NWFZ | No |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes |
| Party to the PTBT | No |
| Member of the CD | No |
| IAEA CSA in force | Yes |
| IAEA AP in force | Yes |
| Party to the CWC | Yes |
| Party to the BWC | Yes |