September 9, 2023
On September 7, 2023 Sergey Ryabkov, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, expressed updated Moscow’s stance dealing with the NPT at the Regional seminar "Strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime" held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, the same day. Here are some major points of his remarks that might be interesting because they have been delivered by a person who at the Russian MFA monitors arms control issues and inter alia the relationships between Russia and the USA.
He said that Russia has always proceeded from the fact that the effectiveness of the nuclear non-proliferation regime, which is based on the NPT, arrives from maintaining a balance between the three pillars of this Treaty: cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of atomic energy, nuclear non-proliferation and negotiations on nuclear disarmament.
Ryabkov noted that the nature of the discussion is still determined by high expectations and demands by some of the State Parties and the general radicalization of positions. Often there is just a systematic promotion of national or group guidelines, delegations neither listen to each other nor try to reach compromise. There are also attempts to bring into the review process external issues, which provokes the emergence of new dividing lines. This was most evident during the debates on strengthening the review process of the Treaty. Another stumbling block is the deliberate politicization of discussions. Some States just initially lack a focus on finding a mutually acceptable solution to problems.
A high-ranking diplomat expressed concern that in recent decades a certain group of countries, or to be precise, the States which are the NATO members and their partners, have been trying to usurp the right to interpret the issue of compliance by other State Parties with their obligations under the NPT. They also have been trying to use the provisions of the Treaty to put pressure on objectionable countries and justify the interference in their internal affairs.
In his words, ensuring the sustainability of the NPT is one of the priorities for maintaining stability on a global scale.
Among negative points, he highlighted the fact that many State Parties, when considering the nuclear disarmament issues, unreasonably evade taking into account political and strategic realities. This is happening contrary to the logic of the comprehensive approach embodied in the NPT and the consensus decisions of the review conferences. At the same time, unrealistic demands are put forward, simply driving the situation into a deadlock. Meanwhile, it is clear that progress towards nuclear disarmament and nuclear arms control cannot be carried out in isolation from the international security situation as well as the military and strategic context. These are interrelated processes and moving forward on the mentioned tracks is impossible without the creation of favorable conditions that would ensure the maintenance of peace and stability during the reduction of nuclear weapons, as well as without respecting the principle of undiminished security for all.
Ryabkov specifically mentioned that the military and political situation in the world continues to rapidly degrade.
The accumulated conflict potential between the nuclear powers that had not been settled timely has already led to an acute crisis in the Euro-Atlantic region and threatens to develop into a military confrontation in the Asia-Pacific region. Having violated the principle of equal and indivisible security, the NATO alliance relied on harmful expansion and assertive military squatting of territories in the zone of Russia's vital interests. The West used the responsive actions we were compelled to make to protect our external security as a pretext for switching to an open forceful pressure on Russia, dangerously balancing on the verge of a direct armed conflict of nuclear powers. At the same time, the current crisis is far from being resolved and fraught with the most serious risks of further escalation.
The Deputy Minister outlined that the situation is characterized by the ongoing erosion of the existing international security architecture, including its important pillars – arms control agreements.
In the nuclear missile sphere, in particular, potential negative scenarios are deeply alarming after the United States withdrew from the INF Treaty and actively preparing to deploy previously banned missile systems. The situation that led to the suspension of the New START due to the destructive policy of the United States and its significant violation of this agreement cannot but cause concern.
Nuclear disarmament in the NPT is incorporated in the context of general and complete disarmament, but now we are witnessing an increase in spending on conventional weapons in most States. The USA accounts for 40% of all military spending in the world and if we add up the budgets of the armies of NATO countries and their closest allies, we get about two-thirds of global military spending.
And this cannot be ignored when talking about the renunciation of nuclear weapons, Ryabkov underscored.
Bearing that in mind, there has been no reduction in the nuclear potential of NATO. On the contrary, the so-called non-strategic nuclear weapons (NSNW) of the United States are located on the territory of the alliance States, and vital Russian facilities are within their reach. Thus, such weapons have all the properties of strategic nuclear forces. According to recent reports, the possibilities for stationing of US NSNW in Europe are expanding. Moreover, another NATO member – the UK – decided to increase its nuclear arsenal by almost a third.
Under such circumstances, the validity of our consistently defended thesis about the counterproductiveness of those approaches to nuclear disarmament that imply an immediate and complete ban on nuclear weapons or the establishment of both harsh and artificial deadlines for reaching "nuclear zero" becomes very obvious.
He reiterated that Russia remains unfailingly committed to finding ways to move towards a world free of the nuclear threat, in full compliance with Article VI of the NPT in its entirety. For decades, our country has been making a significant practical contribution to the reduction of nuclear weapons. We are convinced that further progress along this path can be achieved only on the basis of a phased and consensus approach, with consistent work to improve the military and political climate and respecting the interests of all States.
The Deputy Foreign Minister stated that joint efforts are needed to ensure the coexistence of major military powers at a reduced level of conflict potential through a coordinated renewal of the international security architecture. Such work should be carried out comprehensively, taking into account all the factors defining the juncture of things in the area and include not only individual steps to reduce strategic risks, but, first of all, effective measures to eliminate the root causes of those contradictions that destabilize the relations among nuclear-weapon States.
He also touched upon the IAEA safeguards system, the fate of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula, the establishment of the Middle East WMD-free zone and nuclear-weapon-free zones in various regions of the world in general terms as well as the CTBT entry into force and some other issues.
Ryabkov expressed concern that taking into account the tense international situation, the recently started NPT review cycle is unlikely to be simple in terms of developing and agreeing on decisions that will help strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime.
He explained that the differences between the State Parties are too strong and the demands of some of them are too high. On the contrary, a calm and mutually respectful expert dialogue is in demand today. Only on its basis it is possible to negotiate and move forward.
He did not threaten to use nuclear weapons by Russia against Ukraine, as many Western experts unjustifiably used to claim many times.
Ryabkov concluded that it is necessary to exclude the politicization of non-proliferation platforms, moderate ambitions and act primarily in the interests of the NPT, and ultimately the entire world community.***
My personal note: it is very strange to read that the U.S. ACA Executive Director Daryl G. Kimball in September 2023 stated that: “Meanwhile, Russia may be on the verge of further nuclear nonproliferation sabotage. Russian officials acknowledge reports that they are considering the self-defeating option of “unratifying” the CTBT to achieve symmetry with Washington in all areas of nuclear policy, but say no official decisions have been made”. [https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2023-09/focus/defending-de-facto-nuclear-test-ban?emci=eb4b5b68-7b46-ee11-a3f1-00224832eb73&emdi=bc787398-7e46-ee11-a3f1-00224832eb73&ceid=9317233]
The truth is that nobody inside the Russian supreme military and political leadership has ever made any statement on a possibility for “unratifying” the CTBT. Russia has ratified it in 2000, and still is committed to it. And who from “Russian officials
Written by Vladimir P. Kozin
