NATO’s yearly exercise in the use of nuclear weapons, #SteadfastNoon, is going ahead this year, despite heightened tensions and explicit nuclear threats. Here's what you need to know 🧵
#NATO confirmed this morning that the exercise will take place in Belgium, with 14 states participating. Belgian media are reporting that it will take place at Belgium's Kleine Brogel base, where US nuclear weapons are stationed: vrt.be/vrtnws/en/2022…
All nuclear exercises imply willingness to mass murder civilians, wipe out entire cities and risk all out nuclear war. They also risk accidents, escalation and will legitimize Russia’s dangerous nuclear rhetoric.
At a time when the world is outraged by Russia’s unacceptable nuclear threats, NATO should not follow suit and practice using weapons of mass destruction. Another nuclear-related exercise was canceled in March, most likely to avoid the risk of escalation. reuters.com/business/aeros…
We’re closer to nuclear war than we have been since the Cuban Missile crisis, and no one can afford further escalation. All governments must condemn all nuclear threats and cease military preparations which simulate the use of nuclear weapons: icanw.org/why_condemn_th….
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🧵1/ #NPT state parties are in the final hours to adopt or not adopt an outcome document for the #10RevCon. Here is what you should know.
2/ There are a number of issues that could cause states to break consensus in the final stages of the #NPTRevCon, including disagreements over AUKUS, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, the Middle East, and more.
3/ What we know is that, whether they succeed or not, they’re failing -- we have seen the drafts on the table and it’s clear that, no matter what, they are not going to advance their disarmament obligations with the urgency the current security environment requires. #NPTRevCon
2/ During the #TPNW1MSP, states parties issued the strongest multilateral statement ever against nuclear threats and adopted and began implementing a nuclear disarmament action. The #NPTRevCon should also adopt a concrete plan of action to reduce nuclear arsenals. #nuclearban
3/Currently all nuclear weapon states are in violation of their obligation to pursue nuclear disarmament under the NPT.They must return to compliance immediately ➡️icanw.org/10th_npt_revie… Joining the TPNW is one action they can take to implement their obligations under Article VI
🧵The #NPTRevCon is starting tomorrow at the UN headquarters in NYC, read the thread below to learn more about it ⬇️
1/ It’s the review conference of the #NPT, which prohibits its 186 non-nuclear-weapon states parties from ever acquiring nuclear weapons, while obliging its five nuclear-weapon states parties🇨🇳🇫🇷🇷🇺🇬🇧🇺🇸 to pursue nuclear disarmament. #NPTRevCon
2/ However, the #NPT does not outlaw nuclear weapons nor prohibit their use. It also does not provide any timelines for when the nuclear armed states are to achieve nuclear disarmament. States parties have failed to adopt a new plan for its implementation for more than a decade.
🧵1/4 In Vienna, history was made 🎉🎉🎉 Here are three highlights from the outcomes of the #TPNW1MSP that explain why it's so revolutionary in its plan to end nuclear weapons. #nuclearban
2/4 Condemning nuclear threats: in response to Russia’s nuclear threats and the increasing dangers of nuclear war, states made clear in the Vienna Declaration that nuclear threats are never acceptable.
3/4 Specific to-dos: States agreed on a 50 point action plan to end nuclear weapons including everything from spreading the word on the #humanitarian harm of nuclear weapons, to assisting survivors of nuclear weapons use and testing and planning a trust fund for affected states.
WE DID IT! #TPNW1MSP just adopted the Vienna Declaration & Action Plan - the strongest multilateral condemnation of nuclear threats and concrete steps on how states will end nuclear weapons through #nuclearban. More here:
➡️bit.ly/3OgvoHD
➡️bit.ly/39N2LTj 1/11
1. No nuclear threats are ever acceptable. Participating states repeated this throughout the conference, and the adopted declaration made it clear: Call it blackmail or deterrence, it is illegal, immoral & dangerous. 2/11 #nuclearban
2. Eliminating nuclear weapons. States set a deadline of 10 years to eliminate nuclear weapons when nuclear-armed states join the TPNW and 90 days for the removal of weapons from host states when they join the Treaty. 3/11
We have been talking a lot about the big first meeting of state parties to the TPNW, but what will actually be discussed? The provisional agenda was just adopted, here is what’s on the table. A 🧵 1/12 #nuclearban#Vienna
The meeting will begin by electing officers and with some introductions and statements from high level-officials, including UN secretary-general @antonioguterres 2/12
Then delegates will go through important elements like officially adopting the agenda, the rules of procedure, deciding on how to organize work, and a general exchange of views 3/12