Stockholm Initiative for Nuclear Disarmament
The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is a landmark international treaty and the cornerstone of the multilateral framework for global disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. Launched in Stockholm in June 2019, the Stockholm Initiative for Nuclear Disarmament aims to promote a successful outcome of the 10th Review Conference of the NPT through building political support for a pragmatic and result-oriented nuclear disarmament agenda.
- Responsible ministers
- Ann Linde
- Responsible ministries
- Ministry for Foreign Affairs
What does the Stockholm Initiative on Nuclear Disarmament involve?
The Stockholm Initiative for Nuclear Disarmament was launched in June 2019 by ministers of 16 Non-Nuclear Weapon states from different parts of the world and different security policy contexts. The participating ministers agreed to promote an ambitious, yet realistic agenda for nuclear disarmament that would reaffirm the role of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as the cornerstone of the global disarmament and non-proliferation regime. Giving real meaning to this, concrete measures for the implementation of Article VI – disarmament – of the Treaty would be identified, building on the commitments made during a series of Review Conferences, notably in 1995, 2000 and 2010.
At their meeting in Berlin, Germany, on 25 February 2020, the ministers of the Initiative adopted a declaration and a set of concrete proposals – ‘stepping stones’ – for nuclear disarmament. These are practical and viable measures that can and should be taken now to advance nuclear disarmament and build momentum for even further progress down the road. Among other objectives, the proposed measures seek to minimize the risk of conflict and accidental nuclear weapon use, diminish the role of nuclear weapons in security policies and doctrines and enhance nuclear disarmament verification. Promotion of disarmament education and the full and effective participation of women in nuclear disarmament affairs are other elements. The Berlin declaration with its stepping stones was reaffirmed at ministerial meetings in Amman, Jordan in January, in Madrid, Spain in July 2021 and in Stockholm, Sweden in December, together with a call to advance nuclear disarmament by taking meaningful steps to implement commitments under the NPT. The proposals for ‘stepping stones’ have been formally submitted as a joint working paper to the NPT Review Conference and are open for alignment by other States Parties of the NPT. A working paper on reducing nuclear risks – A Nuclear Risk Reduction Package – has also been adopted, submitted, and is open for alignment by other NPT States Parties.
Which countries are part of the intiative?
The Stockholm Initiative for Nuclear Disarmament gathers 16 Non-Nuclear Weapon states from different parts of the world and from different security policy contexts:
Argentina, Canada, Ethiopia, Finland, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Other States Parties to the Non-Prolfieration Treaty – Non-Nuclear Weapon states and Nuclear Weapon states alike – are invited to support the proposals of the initiative by aligning with the working papers “Stepping Stones for Advancing Nuclear Disarmament” and “A Nuclear Risk Reduction Package”.
