Tonga
In September 2021, the Government of Tonga said that the question of Tonga's accession to the TPNW was being discussed 'at the highest level'.[1]
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) | Abstained (2023) |
| Participated in 1MSP (2022) | No |
| 1MSP delegation size (% women) | N/A |
| 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 | Yes (Ratified 1996, Rarotonga) |
| Party to the NPT | Yes (Acceded 1971) |
| Ratified the CTBT | No |
| Party to the BWC | Yes (Acceded 1976) |
| Party to the CWC | Yes (Acceded 2003) |
| IAEA safeguards and fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Safeguards agreement | Yes (18 Nov 1993) |
| 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
Tonga voted in favour of adopting the TPNW at the UN Diplomatic Conference in 2017. It abstained on the annual UN General Assembly resolutions on the Treaty in 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Tonga maintains policies and practices that are compliant with all of the prohibitions in Article 1 of the Treaty, and can therefore sign and ratify it 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, the Pacific Small Island Developing States, of which Tonga is a member, delivered a joint statement which said: “We are gravely concerned about the serious shortfalls in the implementation of Article VI of the NPT although the nuclear weapon states have spent billions of dollars on modernizing and maintaining their nuclear arsenals. This amount could have been better spent on helping victims of past use and testing of nuclear weapons, fighting the global pandemic of Covid-19 and on the sustainable development goals.” The statement also said that ‘Despite the unfortunate recent behavior, following the invasion of Ukraine, and hinting at their possible use, there is hope’, and noted the entry into force of the TPNW and the convening of the Treaty's First Meeting of States Parties (1MSP).2
Recommendations
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Tonga should urgently adhere to the TPNW. Until it is in a position to do so, it should welcome the TPNW as a valuable component in the global disarmament and non-proliferation architecture, work with the Treaty's states parties on practical steps towards disarmament, and attend the meetings of states parties as an observer.
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Tonga should conclude and bring into force an Additional Protocol with the IAEA.
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Tonga should also adhere to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
1) Communications from the Government of Tonga to ICAN, 7 September 2021