Turkmenistan
It is believed that the issue of accession to the TPNW is under the consideration of the Government of Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan did not participate in the TPNW negotiations in 2017, but has consistently voted in favour of the annual UN General Assembly resolutions on the Treaty. Since 2021 it has also been one of the co-sponsors of the resolution. Turkmenistan 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) | No |
| 1MSP delegation size (% women) | N/A |
| Adoption of TPNW (7 July 2017) | N/A |
| Participated in TPNW negotiations (2017) | No |
| Negotiation mandate (A/RES/71/258) | Did not vote |
| Other weapons of mass destruction (WMD) treaties | |
|---|---|
| Party to an NWFZ | Yes (Ratified 2008, Semipalatinsk) |
| Party to the NPT | Yes (Acceded 1994) |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes (Ratified 1998) |
| Party to the BWC | Yes (Acceded 1996) |
| Party to the CWC | Yes (Ratified 1994) |
| IAEA safeguards and fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Safeguards agreement | Yes (3 Jan 2006) |
| TPNW Art 3(2) deadline | N/A |
| Small Quantities Protocol | No |
| Additional Protocol | Yes |
| Enrichment facilities/reprocessing plants | No |
| HEU stocks | No |
| Plutonium stocks | No |
Latest developments
In August 2023, Turkmenistan attended a meeting in Kazakhstan hosted by the foreign ministry to promote adherence to the TPNW and consideration of the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons. Kazakhstan emphasised the compatibility of the TPNW with the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (NWFZ) Treaty, to which Turkmenistan is a state party.1
Recommendations
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Turkmenistan should urgently adhere to the TPNW.