Netherlands
The Netherlands was the only nuclear-weapon-complicit state to participate in the negotiations of the TPNW, but also the only state that voted against the adoption of the Treaty on 7 July 2017. The Netherlands has not adhered to the TPNW, and is not in compliance with all of the prohibitions in Article 1 of the Treaty. The Netherlands may sign and ratify the TPNW, but will have to make changes to its policies and practices to become compliant.
Latest developments and background
In November 2018, the Dutch House of Representatives adopted a series of motions calling on the government to intensify its advocacy for nuclear disarmament, including to champion the TPNW within NATO and investigate the compatibility of the TPNW with existing Dutch legislation. The Dutch foreign and defence ministers responded that there are no fundamental obstacles within the Dutch law preventing the Netherlands from joining. (bit.ly/2P730d7)
Recommendations
- The Netherlands should ensure that nuclear weapons do not have a role in its national defence plans and security policies. It should renounce the retention and potential use of nuclear weapons on its behalf, for instance through a declaratory statement, and refrain from endorsing future alliance statements in support of nuclear weapons.
- The Netherlands 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 – in line with its obligations under the NPT – welcome the TPNW as a valuable contribution towards the common aspiration of a world without nuclear weapons, attend its meetings of states parties as an observer, and work with its states parties on practical steps towards disarmament.
| 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 | Not 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 | Not compliant |
| TPNW process | |
|---|---|
| Vote on mandate resolution (A/RES/71/258) | Abstained |
| Participated in treaty negotiations (% women) | Yes (30%) |
| Vote on adoption of treaty text | Voted no |
| Vote on UNGA resolution 2018 | Voted no |
| Fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Highly enriched uranium stocks | <1 t (~35 weapon equivalents) |
| Civilian plutonium stocks | |
| Fissile material production | Yes (LEU) |
| Related treaties and mechanisms | |
|---|---|
| Party to the NPT | Yes |
| Party to a NWFZ | No |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes (Annex 2 state) |
| Party to the PTBT | Yes |
| Member of the CD | Yes |
| IAEA CSA in force | Yes |
| IAEA AP in force | Yes |
| Party to the CWC | Yes |
| Party to the BWC | Yes |