Uruguay
In a statement marking the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons on 26 September 2023, Uruguay highlighted its ratification of the TPNW and said that ‘a world without nuclear weapons is essential for the fulfilment of humanity’s priority objectives, such as peace, security, development and environmental protection’.[1]
TPNW Status
| TPNW Article 1(1) prohibitions: Compliance in 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| (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 | |
|---|---|
| UNGA resolution on TPNW (latest vote) | Voted yes (2024) |
| Participated in 2MSP (2023) | Yes |
| 2MSP delegation size (% women) | 3 (33%) |
| 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 1968, Tlatelolco) |
| Party to the NPT | Yes (Ratified 1970) |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes (Ratified 2001) |
| Party to the BWC | Yes (Acceded 1981) |
| Party to the CWC | Yes (Ratified 1994) |
| IAEA safeguards and fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Safeguards agreement | Yes (17 Sep 1976) |
| 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
Uruguay participated in the Second Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW (2MSP) in November and December 2023, where it described the TPNW’s entry into force as a ‘milestone’ for international law. ‘The mere existence of nuclear weapons constitutes a real and latent danger to the security and survival of humanity,’ it said. ‘We call on TPNW States parties to work to expand the Treaty’s membership and achieve its full and effective implementation, as a common tool to effectively confront the dangers that nuclear weapons pose for our people.’2
At the conclusion of the 2MSP, Uruguay and South Africa were appointed as co-chairs of the informal working group on universalisation of the TPNW. They will report on their activities to the third Meeting of States Parties in 2025.3
Uruguay was one of the co-sponsors for the 2023 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’.4
Recommendations
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Uruguay should continue to encourage other states to adhere to the TPNW.
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Uruguay should ensure that all the TPNW obligations are implemented domestically, through legal, administrative, and other necessary measures.