Qatar
Qatar attended as an observer the First Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW (1MSP) in Vienna in June 2022. It voted in favour of adopting the TPNW at the UN Diplomatic Conference in 2017 and has consistently voted in favour of the annual UN General Assembly resolutions on the Treaty, including in 2022.
TPNW Status
| TPNW Article 1(1) prohibitions: Compatibility in 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| (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 1MSP (2022) | Observer |
| 1MSP delegation size (% women) | 4 (75%) |
| 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 1989) |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes (Ratified 1997) |
| Party to the BWC | Yes (Ratified 1975) |
| Party to the CWC | Yes (Ratified 1997) |
| IAEA safeguards and fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Safeguards agreement | Yes |
| TPNW Art 3(2) deadline | N/A |
| Small Quantities Protocol | Yes (Modified) |
| Additional Protocol | No |
| Enrichment facilities/reprocessing plants | No |
| HEU stocks | No |
| Plutonium stocks | No |
Latest developments
Qatar 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 the Tenth Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in August 2022, Qatar said: ‘The disastrous consequences of the use of nuclear weapons on humanity and all life on our planet can only be avoided by completely and definitively banning their use.’1
Marking the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons on 26 September 2022, Qatar said that the TPNW’s adoption in 2017 and its entry into force in 2021 reflect the support of the international community for the total elimination of nuclear weapons.2
In the First Committee of the UN General Assembly in October 2022, Qatar stressed ‘the importance of adhering to all agreements and treaties related to the disarmament of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction’.3
Recommendations
- Qatar should urgently adhere to the TPNW.
- Qatar should conclude and bring into force an Additional Protocol with the IAEA.