Viet Nam
Viet Nam is an example to be followed by other States, as it has adhered to all of the seven key treaties in the legal architecture on disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, in addition to being party to a nuclear-weapon-free zone (NWFZ) treaty.
TPNW Status
| Key weapons of mass destruction treaties | ||
|---|---|---|
| NUCLEAR WEAPONS | ||
| Party to the TPNW | Yes (Ratified 2018) | |
| Party to the NPT | Yes (Acceded 1982) | |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes (Ratified 2006, Annex 2 state) | |
| Party to an NWFZ | Yes (Ratified 1996, Bangkok) | |
| CSA with the IAEA | Yes (In force 1990) | |
| AP with the IAEA | Yes (In force 2012) | |
| BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS | ||
| Party to the BWC | Yes (Ratified 1980) | |
| Party to the CWC | Yes (Ratified 1998) | |
| TPNW Art. 1(1) prohibitions: Compliance in 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Develop, produce, manufacture, acquire | Compliant |
| Possess or stockpile | Compliant | |
| Test | 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 (2025) |
| Participated in 3MSP (2025) | Yes |
| Participated in 2MSP (2023) | Yes |
| Participated in 1MSP (2022) | Yes |
| Average MSP delegation size (% women) | 3 (36%) |
| Adoption of TPNW (7 July 2017) | Voted yes |
| Participated in TPNW negotiations (2017) | Yes |
| Negotiation mandate (A/RES/71/258) | Voted yes |
| Fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Nuclear facilities | Yes |
| Fissile material production | No |
| HEU stocks | Cleared |
| Plutonium stocks | No |
| SQP with the IAEA | No |
Latest developments
In the Conference on Disarmament in February 2025, Viet Nam noted that it is a State Party ‘to all major multilateral agreements on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, including the most important treaties negotiated and adopted by this forum and, most recently, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons [TPNW]’.1
At the Third Meeting of States Parties (3MSP) to the TPNW in March 2025, Viet Nam described the TPNW as ‘a landmark achievement, reinforcing global disarmament and complementing other treaties, including [the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons] NPT, [the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty] CTBT, and regional nuclear-weapon-free zones’. It noted that it was among the first 10 States to ratify the TPNW.2
‘The universalization of the TPNW must be accelerated,’ it said. ‘The Treaty’s success depends on widespread adherence. We call on all States that have not yet done so to sign, ratify, or accede to the TPNW without delay. Advocacy and awareness-raising remain essential to consolidating global support.’
At the NPT Preparatory Committee meeting in April 2025, Viet Nam said that ‘the NPT implementation must be reinforced through a range of complementary mechanisms and instruments’ and called on ‘countries to prioritize ratification and accession to the TPNW’.3 Viet Nam was appointed as President of the 11th Review Conference of the NPT in 2026.
Viet Nam co-sponsored the 2025 UN General Assembly resolution on the TPNW, which welcomed the Treaty’s entry into force and 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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Viet Nam should continue to encourage other states to adhere to the TPNW.
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Viet Nam should ensure that all the TPNW obligations are implemented domestically, through legal, administrative, and other necessary measures.