Trinidad and Tobago
In a statement to the 2021 UN General Assembly's High-Level Plenary Meeting to Commemorate and Promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, the Foreign Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Amery Browne, encouraged states that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the TPNW, and he implored states to work together 'towards removing the threat of nuclear obliteration'.[1]
| TPNW Article 1(1) prohibitions: Compliance in 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Develop, produce, manufacture, acquire | Compliant |
| Test | Compliant | |
| Possess or stockpile | Compliant | |
| (b) | Transfer | Compliant |
| (c) | Receive transfer or control | Compliant |
| (d) | Use | Compliant |
| Threaten to use | Compliant | |
| (e) | Assist, encourage or induce | Compliant |
| (f) | Seek or receive assistance | Compliant |
| (g) | Allow stationing, installation, deployment | Compliant |
| TPNW voting and participation | |
|---|---|
| 2021 UNGA resolution on TPNW | |
| 2020 UNGA resolution on TPNW | |
| 2019 UNGA resolution on TPNW | Voted yes |
| 2018 UNGA resolution on TPNW | Voted yes |
| Participated in TPNW negotiations | Yes |
| Share of women in TPNW negotiations | 75% |
| Vote on adoption of treaty text | Voted yes |
| Adoption of TPNW (7 July 2017) | Voted yes |
| IAEA safeguards and fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Safeguards Agreement | Yes |
| TPNW Art 3(2) deadline | N/A |
| Small Quantities Protocol | Yes (Original) |
| Additional Protocol | No |
| Fissile material production facilities | No |
| Highly enriched uranium stocks | No |
| Plutonium stocks (mil/civ) | No/No |
| Related treaties and regimes | |
|---|---|
| Party to the BWC | Yes |
| Party to the CWC | Yes |
| Party to the PTBT | Yes |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes |
| Party to the NPT | Yes |
| Party to a NWFZ | Yes (Tlatelolco) |
| Member of the CD | No |
Latest developments
In the First Committee of the 2021 UN General Assembly, Trinidad and Tobago said that it 'has noted, with much concern, the modernization and acceleration of the accumulation of nuclear and other arsenals by some States. An unchecked nuclear arms race could potentially put the world, either through miscalculation or through pre-meditation, on a certain path to catastrophic human and environmental consequences. The evidence suggests that contrary to the conventional wisdom, deterrence, in fact, breathes escalation. We remain convinced that the total elimination of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction offers the only effective guarantee of international peace and security. [...] Along with the international community, we welcomed the entry into force of the Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons earlier this year and we look forward to the First Meeting of States Parties in 2022.'2
Trinidad and Tobago was one of the co-sponsors of the 2021 UN General Assembly resolution on the TPNW, which called 'upon all States that have not yet done so to sign, ratify, accept, approve or accede to the Treaty at the earliest possible date'.3
Recommendations
- Trinidad and Tobago should continue to encourage other states to adhere to the TPNW.
- Trinidad and Tobago should ensure that all the TPNW obligations are implemented domestically, through legal, administrative, and other necessary measures.
- Trinidad and Tobago should conclude and bring into force an Additional Protocol with the IAEA, and upgrade to a Modified Small Quantities Protocol.