Tonga
Tonga voted in favour of adopting the TPNW at the UN Diplomatic Conference in 2017, but has not yet adhered to the Treaty and abstained on the UN General Assembly resolution on the TPNW in 2020. 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 making changes to existing practices or policies.
| TPNW status |
|---|
| Not signed, not ratified, not acceded |
| Compatibility with prohibitions in TPNW Article 1(1) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Art 1(1)(a) | Develop, produce, manufacture, acquire | Compatible |
| Test | Compatible | |
| Possess or stockpile | Compatible | |
| Art 1(1)(b) | Transfer | Compatible |
| Art 1(1)(c) | Receive transfer or control | Compatible |
| Art 1(1)(d) | Use | Compatible |
| Threaten to use | Compatible | |
| Art 1(1)(e) | Assist, encourage or induce | Compatible |
| Art 1(1)(f) | Seek or receive assistance | Compatible |
| Art 1(1)(g) | Allow stationing, installation, deployment | Compatible |
| TPNW voting and participation | |
|---|---|
| Vote on negotiation mandate (A/RES/71/258) | Voted yes |
| Participated in treaty negotiations (% women) | Yes (33%) |
| Vote on adoption of treaty text | Voted yes |
| Last vote on UNGA resolution | Abstained |
| Fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Fissile material production facilities | No |
| Highly enriched uranium stocks | No |
| Plutonium stocks (military/civilian) | No/No |
| Related treaties and regimes | |
|---|---|
| Party to the NPT | Yes |
| Party to a NWFZ | Yes (Rarotonga) |
| Ratified the CTBT | No |
| Party to the PTBT | Yes |
| Member of the CD | No |
| IAEA CSA in force | Yes |
| IAEA AP in force | No |
| Party to the CWC | Yes |
| Party to the BWC | Yes |
Latest developments
As a member of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS), Tonga aligned itself with the group's statement at the 2020 UN General Assembly's High-Level Plenary Meeting to Commemorate and Promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, which said: 'The world does not need nuclear weapons. The challenges of nuclear disarmament can only be resolved by a strengthened multilateral system that sets the conditions for transparency, confidence-building and co-operation. The NPT, the CTBT and the TPNW are crucial if we are to further the objective of reducing and eliminating nuclear weapons. Today, we PSIDSs say no to nuclear weapons, and we reiterate our commitment to the elimination of nuclear weapons everywhere. We encourage member states to ratify the CTBT and the TPNW. It is morally right, and we owe it to ourselves and our future generations.' See: bit.ly/36QVwUU.
Recommendations
- Tonga should urgently sign and ratify the TPNW, and encourage other states to adhere to the Treaty.
- Tonga should conclude and bring into force an Additional Protocol (AP) with the IAEA. Tonga should also sign and ratify the CTBT.