Louis Reitmann Shares Ways out of NPT Deadlock at European Forum Alpbach

Following the disappointing outcome of the Tenth Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non‑Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), VCDNP Research Associate Louis Reitmann shared ideas on how the EU and its Member States could help revitalise the Treaty at the European Forum Alpbach. Joined by former Spanish Foreign Minister and Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs Arancha González Laya, the panel discussion also focussed on the dangerous trend of nuclear arsenal expansion and modernisation, as well as the urgent need for broad civic engagement for nuclear risk reduction and disarmament.

The event was hosted by the Austrian foreign policy think tank Ponto, and moderated by diplomatic correspondent Stephanie Liechtenstein.

In his presentation, Mr. Reitmann outlined the challenges that the NPT is facing in each of its pillars, noting the lack of nuclear disarmament, continuing proliferation, and the persisting, unequal access to nuclear technologies.

“The States Parties are failing to agree on issues they can resolve, and are failing to resolve issues they can agree on.”

After summarising States Parties’ failure to find meaningful agreement on nuclear disarmament, risk reduction, and establishing accountability and follow-up mechanisms at the Review Conference, he proposed concrete actions that the EU and its Member States, respectively, could take to avert the Treaty’s disintegration. He suggested that EU Member States advocate to reset expectations of the Treaty. States Parties should recognise that, given the fundamental disagreement over the meaning of Article VI since the Treaty negotiations, the NPT is an ineffective disarmament instrument.

“We have to adapt our expectations of the Treaty or it will break while we are trying to make it do things it will not do.”

At the same time, EU Member States, most of which are also NATO Member States, should pressure the nuclear-weapon States to stop setting unachievable conditions for disarmament progress, such as “undiminished” or “increased security for all.” Mr Reitmann recalled that unilateral action for disarmament is possible, exemplified by the Biden administration’s decision to stop its sea-launched cruise missile programme despite tensions with Russia over Ukraine.

He also suggested reconfiguring NPT Review Conferences, making them shorter, decreasing the focus on an outcome document and increasing the focus on action on the Treaty’s objectives.

Additionally, Mr. Reitmann stressed that broadening access to peaceful uses of nuclear technologies would help ease tensions over lacking nuclear disarmament. Building on a paper authored by VCDNP colleagues Ingrid Kirsten and Mara Zarka, he recommended that the EU Commission should finance peaceful uses projects under the IAEA Technical Cooperation programme and Peaceful Uses Initiative. The Commission should also recruit nuclear technology experts to advise on ways to incorporate peaceful uses into existing and future EU development programmes, and urge national development aid agencies to mainstream peaceful uses in their projects.