Qatar
Qatar attended as an observer the First and Second Meetings of States Parties to the TPNW. 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 2023. 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
| TPNW Article 1(1) prohibitions: Compatibility in 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| (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 2MSP (2023) | Yes (observer) |
| 1MSP delegation size (% women) | 4 (25%) |
| 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 (21 Jan 2009) |
| 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
In May 2023, Qatar hosted, in cooperation with the League of Arab States, the Second Arab Forum on Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, with the participation of 20 Arab States. One topic of discussion was the TPNW, which the Arab League has described as ‘an important addition to the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime’.1
In a statement marking the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons on 26 September 2023, Qatar said that ‘it is unfortunate that the international community is still struggling to achieve the noble goal of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons’, and it looked forward to ‘all countries joining international agreements in the field of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation’.2
In the First Committee of the UN General Assembly in October 2023, Qatar called on nuclear-weapon States to eliminate their nuclear weapons ‘in a comprehensive and rapid manner’ as required by the NPT. It also emphasised the need for people ‘to exercise their role in reminding their governments of the catastrophic humanitarian consequences resulting from any use of nuclear weapons’.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 with the IAEA.