Qatar
Qatar voted in favour of adopting the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) at the UN negotiating conference in 2017 and has consistently voted in favour of the annual UN General Assembly resolutions on the Treaty, including in 2025. It observed the First and Second Meetings of States Parties (1MSP and 2MSP) to the TPNW in 2022 and 2023, respectively. 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.
TPNW Status
| Key weapons of mass destruction treaties | ||
|---|---|---|
| NUCLEAR WEAPONS | ||
| Party to the TPNW | No | |
| Party to the NPT | Yes (Acceded 1989) | |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes (Ratified 1997) | |
| Party to an NWFZ | No | |
| CSA with the IAEA | Yes (In force 2009) | |
| AP with the IAEA | No | |
| BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS | ||
| Party to the BWC | Yes (Ratified 1975) | |
| Party to the CWC | Yes (Ratified 1997) | |
| TPNW Art. 1(1) prohibitions: Compatibility in 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Develop, produce, manufacture, acquire | Compatible |
| Possess or stockpile | Compatible | |
| Test | 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 (2025) |
| Participated in 3MSP (2025) | No |
| Participated in 2MSP (2023) | Yes (observer) |
| Participated in 1MSP (2022) | Yes (observer) |
| Average MSP delegation size (% women) | 4 (50%) |
| Adoption of TPNW (7 July 2017) | Voted yes |
| Participated in TPNW negotiations (2017) | Yes |
| Negotiation mandate (A/RES/71/258) | Voted yes |
| Fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Nuclear facilities | No |
| Fissile material production | No |
| HEU stocks | No |
| Plutonium stocks | No |
| SQP with the IAEA | Yes (Revised) |
Latest developments
In the Conference on Disarmament in February 2025, Qatar noted that it ‘has acceded to several major international conventions in the field of disarmament and continues to develop and modernize national legislation related to weapons of mass destruction in line with its obligations under the conventions to which it is a party’.1
At a high-level event on 26 September 2025 marking the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, Qatar said: ‘The presence of nuclear weapons creates a catastrophic threat … The total elimination of these weapons remains an imperative.’ It reaffirmed its commitment to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).2
In the First Committee of the UN General Assembly in October 2025, Qatar warned that any use of nuclear weapons ‘would have catastrophic consequences for humanity and future generations’. ‘The General Assembly’s adoption of the TPNW [in 2017] reflects the international community’s awareness of the dangers of nuclear weapons, including the risks associated with their testing and development,’ it said.3
Recommendations
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Qatar should urgently adhere to the TPNW.
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Qatar should conclude and bring into force an Additional Protocol (AP) with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).