Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention encompasses the states that have ratified or acceded to the Chemical Weapons Convention, a multilateral treaty outlawing the production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons. In addition, these states are members of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
On January 13, 1993, the Convention was opened for signature.[1] Fiji became the first state to ratify the Convention on January 20, 1993.[1] Pursuant to article 21 of the Convention, it entered into force on April 29, 1997, after it had been ratified by 65 states.[1] The Convention was closed for signature on the preceding day, and states that did not sign the Convention can now only accede to it. Pursuant to article 21 of the Convention, for states that ratify or accede to the Convention after this date, the Convention enters into force 30 days after their deposit of the instrument of ratification or accession.
A total of 197 states may become parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention, including 193 United Nations member states, the Cook Islands, Niue, Palestine, and Vatican City. As of August 2022, 193 states have ratified or acceded to the Convention (most recently Palestine on 17 May 2018) and another state (Israel) has signed but not ratified the Convention.[1] Only Egypt, North Korea, and South Sudan have neither signed nor acceded to the Convention. All four states which are not parties are suspected of possessing chemical weapons.
Of the four non-parties, South Sudan stated in December 2017 that it "has all but concluded the process of joining the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons".[2] Ahmet Üzümcü, the Director-General of the OPCW, has stated that Egypt, Israel, and North Korea had "regional reasons" for not joining.[3][4] Egypt has promised to ratify the Convention if Israel, the only state in the Middle East that is believed to possess nuclear weapons, ratifies the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.[5][6][7] Israel, meanwhile, has stated that it will ratify the Convention if all other non-parties in the region (of which only Egypt remains) do so as well.[5][8] In addition, Israel has been reluctant to ratify due to an unwillingness to grant OPCW inspectors access to its military bases.[9] North Korea is thought to be unlikely to become a party for the foreseeable future.[10]
List of state parties
editState party[1] | Signed | Deposited | Entered into force |
---|---|---|---|
Afghanistan[11] | 14 January 1993 | 24 September 2003 | 24 October 2003 |
Albania | 14 January 1993 | 11 May 1994 | 29 April 1997 |
Algeria | 13 January 1993 | 14 August 1995 | 29 April 1997 |
Andorra | — | 27 February 2003 | 29 March 2003 |
Angola | — | 16 September 2015 | 16 October 2015 |
Antigua and Barbuda | — | 29 August 2005 | 28 September 2005 |
Argentina | 13 January 1993 | 2 October 1995 | 29 April 1997 |
Armenia | 19 March 1993 | 27 January 1995 | 29 April 1997 |
Australia | 13 January 1993 | 6 May 1994 | 29 April 1997 |
Austria | 13 January 1993 | 17 August 1995 | 29 April 1997 |
Azerbaijan | 13 January 1993 | 29 February 2000 | 30 March 2000 |
Bahamas, The | 2 March 1994 | 23 April 2009 | 22 May 2009 |
Bahrain | 24 February 1993 | 28 April 1997 | 29 April 1997 |
Bangladesh | 14 January 1993 | 25 April 1997 | 29 April 1997 |
Barbados | — | 7 March 2007 | 6 April 2007 |
Belarus | 14 January 1993 | 11 July 1996 | 29 April 1997 |
Belgium | 13 January 1993 | 27 January 1997 | 29 April 1997 |
Belize | — | 1 December 2003 | 31 December 2003 |
Benin | 14 January 1993 | 14 May 1998 | 13 June 1998 |
Bhutan | 24 April 1997 | 18 August 2005 | 17 September 2005 |
Bolivia | 14 January 1993 | 14 August 1998 | 13 September 1998 |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 16 January 1997 | 25 February 1997 | 29 April 1997 |
Botswana | — | 31 August 1998 | 30 September 1998 |
Brazil | 13 January 1993 | 13 March 1996 | 29 April 1997 |
Brunei | 13 January 1993 | 28 July 1997 | 27 August 1997 |
Bulgaria | 13 January 1993 | 10 August 1994 | 29 April 1997 |
Burkina Faso | 14 January 1993 | 8 July 1997 | 7 August 1997 |
Burundi | 15 January 1993 | 4 September 1998 | 4 October 1998 |
Cape Verde | 15 January 1993 | 10 October 2003 | 9 November 2003 |
Cambodia | 15 January 1993 | 19 July 2005 | 18 August 2005 |
Cameroon | 14 January 1993 | 16 September 1996 | 29 April 1997 |
Canada | 13 January 1993 | 26 September 1995 | 29 April 1997 |
Central African Republic | 14 January 1993 | 20 September 2006 | 20 October 2006 |
Chad | 11 October 1994 | 13 February 2004 | 14 March 2004 |
Chile | 14 January 1993 | 12 July 1996 | 29 April 1997 |
China | 13 January 1993 | 25 April 1997 | 29 April 1997 |
Colombia | 13 January 1993 | 5 April 2000 | 5 May 2000 |
Comoros | 13 January 1993 | 18 August 2006 | 17 September 2006 |
Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 14 January 1993 | 12 October 2005 | 11 November 2005 |
Congo, Republic of the | 15 January 1993 | 4 December 2007 | 3 January 2008 |
Cook Islands | 14 January 1993 | 15 July 1994 | 29 April 1997 |
Costa Rica | 14 January 1993 | 31 May 1996 | 29 April 1997 |
Côte d'Ivoire | 13 January 1993 | 18 December 1995 | 29 April 1997 |
Croatia | 13 January 1993 | 23 May 1995 | 29 April 1997 |
Cuba | 13 January 1993 | 29 April 1997 | 29 May 1997 |
Cyprus | 13 January 1993 | 28 August 1998 | 27 September 1998 |
Czech Republic | 14 January 1993 | 6 March 1996 | 29 April 1997 |
Denmark | 14 January 1993 | 13 July 1995 | 29 April 1997 |
Djibouti | 28 September 1993 | 25 January 2006 | 24 February 2006 |
Dominica | 2 August 1993 | 12 February 2001 | 14 March 2001 |
Dominican Republic | 13 January 1993 | 27 March 2009 | 26 April 2009 |
East Timor | — | 7 May 2003 | 6 June 2003 |
Ecuador | 14 January 1993 | 6 September 1995 | 29 April 1997 |
El Salvador | 14 January 1993 | 30 October 1995 | 29 April 1997 |
Equatorial Guinea | 14 January 1993 | 25 April 1997 | 29 April 1997 |
Eritrea | — | 14 February 2000 | 15 March 2000 |
Estonia | 14 January 1993 | 26 May 1999 | 25 June 1999 |
Eswatini | 23 September 1993 | 20 November 1996 | 29 April 1997 |
Ethiopia | 14 January 1993 | 13 May 1996 | 29 April 1997 |
Fiji | 14 January 1993 | 20 January 1993 | 29 April 1997 |
Finland | 14 January 1993 | 7 February 1995 | 29 April 1997 |
France | 13 January 1993 | 2 March 1995 | 29 April 1997 |
Gabon | 13 January 1993 | 8 September 2000 | 8 October 2000 |
Gambia, The | 13 January 1993 | 19 May 1998 | 18 June 1998 |
Georgia | 14 January 1993 | 27 November 1995 | 29 April 1997 |
Germany | 13 January 1993 | 12 August 1994 | 29 April 1997 |
Ghana | 14 January 1993 | 9 July 1997 | 8 August 1997 |
Greece | 13 January 1993 | 22 December 1994 | 29 April 1997 |
Grenada | 9 April 1997 | 3 June 2005 | 3 July 2005 |
Guatemala | 14 January 1993 | 12 February 2003 | 14 March 2003 |
Guinea | 14 January 1993 | 9 June 1997 | 9 July 1997 |
Guinea-Bissau | 14 January 1993 | 20 May 2008 | 19 June 2008 |
Guyana | 6 October 1993 | 12 September 1997 | 12 October 1997 |
Haiti | 14 January 1993 | 22 February 2006 | 24 March 2006 |
Honduras | 13 January 1993 | 29 August 2005 | 28 September 2005 |
Hungary | 13 January 1993 | 31 October 1996 | 29 April 1997 |
Iceland | 13 January 1993 | 28 April 1997 | 29 April 1997 |
India | 14 January 1993 | 3 September 1996 | 29 April 1997 |
Indonesia | 13 January 1993 | 12 November 1998 | 12 December 1998 |
Iran | 13 January 1993 | 3 November 1997 | 3 December 1997 |
Iraq | — | 13 January 2009 | 12 February 2009 |
Ireland | 14 January 1993 | 24 June 1996 | 29 April 1997 |
Italy | 13 January 1993 | 8 December 1995 | 29 April 1997 |
Jamaica | 18 April 1997 | 8 September 2000 | 8 October 2000 |
Japan | 13 January 1993 | 15 September 1995 | 29 April 1997 |
Jordan | — | 29 October 1997 | 28 November 1997 |
Kazakhstan | 14 January 1993 | 23 March 2000 | 22 April 2000 |
Kenya | 15 January 1993 | 25 April 1997 | 29 April 1997 |
Kiribati | — | 7 September 2000 | 7 October 2000 |
Korea, South | 14 January 1993 | 28 April 1997 | 29 April 1997 |
Kuwait | 27 January 1993 | 29 May 1997 | 28 June 1997 |
Kyrgyzstan | 22 February 1993 | 29 September 2003 | 29 October 2003 |
Laos | 13 May 1993 | 25 February 1997 | 29 April 1997 |
Latvia | 6 May 1993 | 23 July 1996 | 29 April 1997 |
Lebanon | — | 20 November 2008 | 20 December 2008 |
Lesotho | 7 December 1994 | 7 December 1994 | 29 April 1997 |
Liberia | 15 January 1993 | 23 February 2006 | 25 March 2006 |
Libya | — | 6 January 2004 | 5 February 2004 |
Liechtenstein | 21 July 1993 | 24 November 1999 | 24 December 1999 |
Lithuania | 13 January 1993 | 15 April 1998 | 15 May 1998 |
Luxembourg | 13 January 1993 | 15 April 1997 | 29 April 1997 |
Madagascar | 15 January 1993 | 20 October 2004 | 19 November 2004 |
Malawi | 14 January 1993 | 11 June 1998 | 11 July 1998 |
Malaysia | 13 January 1993 | 20 April 2000 | 20 May 2000 |
Maldives | 1 October 1993 | 31 May 1994 | 29 April 1997 |
Mali | 13 January 1993 | 28 April 1997 | 29 April 1997 |
Malta | 13 January 1993 | 28 April 1997 | 29 April 1997 |
Marshall Islands | 13 January 1993 | 19 May 2004 | 18 June 2004 |
Mauritania | 13 January 1993 | 9 February 1998 | 11 March 1998 |
Mauritius | 14 January 1993 | 9 February 1993 | 29 April 1997 |
Micronesia | 13 January 1993 | 21 June 1999 | 21 July 1999 |
Mexico | 13 January 1993 | 29 August 1994 | 29 April 1997 |
Moldova | 13 January 1993 | 8 July 1996 | 29 April 1997 |
Monaco | 13 January 1993 | 1 June 1995 | 29 April 1997 |
Mongolia | 14 January 1993 | 17 January 1995 | 29 April 1997 |
Montenegro[A] | — | 23 October 2006 | 3 June 2006 |
Morocco | 13 January 1993 | 28 December 1995 | 29 April 1997 |
Mozambique | — | 15 August 2000 | 14 September 2000 |
Myanmar | 14 January 1993 | 8 July 2015 | 7 August 2015 |
Namibia | 13 January 1993 | 27 November 1995 | 29 April 1997 |
Nauru | 13 January 1993 | 12 November 2001 | 12 December 2001 |
Nepal | 19 January 1993 | 18 November 1997 | 18 December 1997 |
Netherlands[B] | 14 January 1993 | 30 June 1995 | 29 April 1997 |
New Zealand | 14 January 1993 | 15 July 1996 | 29 April 1997 |
Nicaragua | 9 March 1993 | 5 November 1999 | 5 December 1999 |
Niger | 14 January 1993 | 9 April 1997 | 29 April 1997 |
Nigeria | 13 January 1993 | 20 May 1999 | 19 June 1999 |
Niue | — | 21 April 2005 | 21 May 2005 |
North Macedonia | — | 20 June 1997 | 20 July 1997 |
Norway | 13 January 1993 | 7 April 1994 | 29 April 1997 |
Oman | 2 February 1993 | 8 February 1995 | 29 April 1997 |
Pakistan | 13 January 1993 | 28 October 1997 | 27 November 1997 |
Palau | — | 3 February 2003 | 5 March 2003 |
Panama | 16 June 1993 | 7 October 1998 | 6 November 1998 |
Palestine[C] | — | 17 May 2018 | 16 June 2018 |
Papua New Guinea | 14 January 1993 | 17 April 1996 | 29 April 1997 |
Paraguay | 14 January 1993 | 1 December 1994 | 29 April 1997 |
Peru | 14 January 1993 | 20 July 1995 | 29 April 1997 |
Philippines | 13 January 1993 | 11 December 1996 | 29 April 1997 |
Poland | 13 January 1993 | 23 August 1995 | 29 April 1997 |
Portugal | 13 January 1993 | 10 September 1996 | 29 April 1997 |
Qatar | 1 February 1993 | 3 September 1997 | 3 October 1997 |
Romania | 13 January 1993 | 15 February 1995 | 29 April 1997 |
Russia | 13 January 1993 | 5 November 1997 | 5 December 1997 |
Rwanda | 17 May 1993 | 31 March 2004 | 30 April 2004 |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | 16 March 1994 | 21 May 2004 | 20 June 2004 |
Saint Lucia | 29 March 1993 | 9 April 1997 | 29 April 1997 |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 20 September 1993 | 18 September 2002 | 18 October 2002 |
Samoa | 14 January 1993 | 27 September 2002 | 27 October 2002 |
San Marino | 13 January 1993 | 10 December 1999 | 9 January 2000 |
São Tomé and Príncipe | — | 9 September 2003 | 9 October 2003 |
Saudi Arabia | 20 January 1993 | 9 August 1996 | 29 April 1997 |
Senegal | 13 January 1993 | 20 July 1998 | 19 August 1998 |
Serbia | — | 20 April 2000 | 20 May 2000 |
Seychelles | 15 January 1993 | 7 April 1993 | 29 April 1997 |
Sierra Leone | 15 January 1993 | 30 September 2004 | 30 October 2004 |
Singapore | 14 January 1993 | 21 May 1997 | 20 June 1997 |
Slovakia | 14 January 1993 | 27 October 1995 | 29 April 1997 |
Slovenia | 14 January 1993 | 11 June 1997 | 11 July 1997 |
Solomon Islands | — | 23 September 2004 | 23 October 2004 |
Somalia | — | 29 May 2013 | 28 June 2013 |
South Africa | 14 January 1993 | 13 September 1995 | 29 April 1997 |
Spain | 13 January 1993 | 3 August 1994 | 29 April 1997 |
Sri Lanka | 14 January 1993 | 19 August 1994 | 29 April 1997 |
Sudan | — | 24 May 1999 | 23 June 1999 |
Suriname | 28 April 1997 | 28 April 1997 | 29 April 1997 |
Sweden | 13 January 1993 | 17 June 1993 | 29 April 1997 |
Switzerland | 14 January 1993 | 10 March 1995 | 29 April 1997 |
Syria | — | 14 September 2013 | 14 October 2013 |
Tajikistan | 14 January 1993 | 11 January 1995 | 29 April 1997 |
Tanzania | 25 February 1994 | 25 June 1998 | 25 July 1998 |
Thailand | 14 January 1993 | 10 December 2002 | 9 January 2003 |
Togo | 13 January 1993 | 23 April 1997 | 29 April 1997 |
Tonga | — | 29 May 2003 | 28 June 2003 |
Trinidad and Tobago | — | 24 June 1997 | 24 July 1997 |
Tunisia | 13 January 1993 | 15 April 1997 | 29 April 1997 |
Turkey | 14 January 1993 | 12 May 1997 | 11 June 1997 |
Turkmenistan | 12 October 1993 | 29 September 1994 | 29 April 1997 |
Tuvalu | — | 19 January 2004 | 18 February 2004 |
Uganda | 14 January 1993 | 30 November 2001 | 30 December 2001 |
Ukraine | 13 January 1993 | 16 October 1998 | 15 November 1998 |
United Arab Emirates | 2 February 1993 | 28 November 2000 | 28 December 2000 |
United Kingdom[D] | 13 January 1993 | 13 May 1996 | 29 April 1997 |
United States | 13 January 1993 | 25 April 1997 | 29 April 1997 |
Uruguay | 15 January 1993 | 6 October 1994 | 29 April 1997 |
Uzbekistan | 24 November 1995 | 23 July 1996 | 29 April 1997 |
Vanuatu | — | 16 September 2005 | 16 October 2005 |
Vatican City | 14 January 1993 | 12 May 1999 | 11 June 1999 |
Venezuela | 14 January 1993 | 3 December 1997 | 2 January 1998 |
Vietnam | 13 January 1993 | 30 September 1998 | 30 October 1998 |
Yemen | 8 February 1993 | 2 October 2000 | 1 November 2000 |
Zambia | 13 January 1993 | 9 February 2001 | 11 March 2001 |
Zimbabwe | 13 January 1993 | 25 April 1997 | 29 April 1997 |
States that have signed but not ratified
editNon-signatory states
editThe following states are eligible to become parties to the Convention, but have not acceded to it.
States with limited recognition
edit- Republic of China – though not eligible to become a party to the Convention due to its limited recognition, it stated on 27 August 2002 that it had fully complied with the Convention.[14][15][16]
See also
edit- Australia Group
- List of parties to the Biological Weapons Convention
- List of parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons
- List of parties to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
- List of parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
- List of parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
- List of parties to the Ottawa Treaty
- List of parties to the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
- List of parties to weapons of mass destruction treaties
Notes
edit- ^ Montenegro succeeded to the Chemical Weapons Convention on 3 June 2006, the date of its independence from Serbia and Montenegro, per a declaration it sent to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, which was received on 23 October 2006.
- ^ The Convention was extended to the Netherlands Antilles (now the Caribbean Netherlands, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten) and Aruba on 28 April 1997.
- ^ Palestine originally submitted an instrument of accession to the Secretary-General of the United Nations depositary on 29 December 2017,[12] but subsequently notified the depositary of its withdrawal of this instrument on 8 January 2018.[13] Palestine resubmitted an instrument of accession on 17 May 2018.
- ^ The Convention was extended to Akrotiri and Dhekelia; Anguilla; Bermuda; the British Antarctic Territory; the British Indian Ocean Territory; the British Virgin Islands; the Cayman Islands; the Falkland Islands; Gibraltar; Guernsey; the Isle of Man; Jersey; Montserrat; the Pitcairn Islands; Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; and the Turks and Caicos Islands on 26 October 2005.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction". United Nations Treaty Collection. 2018-01-03. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
- ^ "South Sudan to Join Chemical Weapons Convention". Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2018-01-02.
- ^ "OPCW: three nations close to joining chemical weapons convention". Al Arabiya. Agence France-Presse. 2013-12-12. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
- ^ Eaves, Elisabeth (2014-10-09). "Ahmet Uzumcu: Getting rid of chemical weapons in Syria and beyond". Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Archived from the original on 2014-10-13. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
- ^ a b Ravid, Barak (2013-09-12). "Israel adamant it won't ratify chemical arms treaty before hostile neighbors". Haaretz. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
- ^ "Egypt refusing to sign WMD treaties". Jerusalem Post. 2009-05-13. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
- ^ Gulhane, Joel (2013-11-10). "Arab League discusses WMDs at Egypt's request". Daily News Egypt. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
- ^ Sanders, Edmund (2013-09-12). "Israel also facing questions about chemical weapons". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
- ^ Melman, Yossi (2013-11-04). "Israel wouldn't dare use nerve gas. So why not destroy it?". i24NEWS. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
- ^ "Chemical Weapons Control Isn't All About Syria". Bloomberg News. 2013-10-02. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
- ^ "Islamic Republic of Afghanistan". OPCW. 24 November 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
- ^ "C.N.809.2017.TREATIES-XXVI.3" (PDF). Secretary-General of the United Nations. 2018-01-02. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
- ^ "C.N.5.2018.TREATIES-XXVI.3" (PDF). Secretary-General of the United Nations. 2018-01-08. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
- ^ "Taiwan Fully Supports Chemical Weapons Convention". Financial Times. 2002-08-27.
- ^ "China Chemical Chronology" (PDF). Washington, D.C. United States: Nuclear Threat Initiative. June 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ^ "Taiwan Overview". Washington, D.C. United States: James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Middlebury Institute of International Studies. 2023-09-06. Retrieved 2024-09-14 – via Nuclear Threat Initiative.