Part I: USA - Back to Multilateralism? The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) enters into force 🎬

Introduction:

  • HEINZ GÄRTNER, University of Vienna, IIP

Panelists:

  • Amb. ret. THOMAS HAJNOCZI, Director for Disarmament, Arms Control and Non-Proliferation in the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs.

  • NADJA SCHMIDT, Chair, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, Austria (ICAN)

  • TOM SAUER, Antwerp University

  • ANGELA KANE, former United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, International Institute for Peace - IIP

Moderation:

  • STEPHANIE FENKART, Director of the IIP

Content:

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) will enter into force on 22 January 2021. On this occasion organizes the IIP a virtual debate about the future of nuclear weapons. The Ban Treaty expresses concern about the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of the use of nuclear weapons, and calls for their complete elimination. Even though the catastrophic consequences of the use of nuclear weapons are widely recognized, nuclear-armed states remain convinced by the concept of nuclear deterrence, which they believe protects them from a nuclear or massive conventional attack. Therefore, nuclear weapon states and all NATO-states oppose the Ban Treaty. Advocates of the Treaty think that nuclear deterrence is only credible if the nuclear armed adversaries permanently demonstrate that they are serious about using nuclear weapons.

This event is part of a series on nuclear arms control and proliferation. Further evets will focus on the future of the New START-Treaty and on the Iran Nuclear Deal (JCPOA) and a Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Middle East (NWFZME).

Other planned discussions in the series “USA: Back to Multilateralism?” include:

15 February: The Future of the New START-Treaty

15 March: The Iran Nuclear Deal (JCPOA) and a Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Middle East (NWFZME)