ABSTRACT
The adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in 2017 introduced a powerful new dynamic into the stagnant realm of nuclear disarmament. The decision by the nuclear-weapon states and their nuclear-dependent allies to boycott the TPNW negotiations created a schism within the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) community that will not be easily repaired. The TPNW did not come out of the blue, but was in itself a manifestation of the building frustration of non-nuclear-weapon states over the failure of the nuclear-weapon states to deliver on their nuclear disarmament commitments. While sharing some of this frustration, the nuclear-dependent allies opted to privilege adherence to the doctrine of nuclear deterrence over advancing nuclear disarmament goals. If the NPT regime is not to suffer serious erosion, these nuclear-dependent allies will need to convince their nuclear-weapon states partners to undertake tangible nuclear disarmament action. The Nonproliferation and Disarmament Initiative grouping of states (which includes pro- and anti-TPNW states alike) might have a special role to play in this regard.
