Page 4 - Nebraska Report January/February 2012

What Does the Nukes Ban Accomplish?
What Does the Nukes Ban Accomplish?

by Rebecca Davis Gibbons But the very fact of the strong vocal op- are concerned that in the short- to medium-
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists position is telling. If the treaty is worthless, term their allies will face pressure to join the
October 30, 2020 why have the nuclear weapon states felt the treaty, undermining extended nuclear deter-
need to so vehemently denounce it? Why rence. In the longer term, the norm enshrined
When the 50th country ratified the Treaty on did the United States, in a last ditch effort to in the treaty could influence their own publics,
the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) prevent its entry into force, try to persuade potentially turning citizens against nuclear
last week, setting up the treaty to enter into current members to withdraw from it? Nuclear weapons. A public against nuclear weapons
force in January 2021, the U.S. government weapons states could, after all, simply ignore will not support nuclear deterrence or the
reiterated a longstanding talking point about the new treaty and not provide it with any immense expense involved in maintaining
it. State Department spokeswoman Morgan undue additional attention. and updating nuclear arsenals. For a govern-
Ortagus asserted: “The TPNW will not result The reason is because they fear the ment that believes that nuclear deterrence is
in the elimination of a single nuclear weapon.” treaty, even if they do not plan to join it. Why? a source of strategic stability and existential
By saying this, the U.S. government is The nuclear weapon states are aware of the security, this norm is dangerous.
making the argument that no current nuclear long-term potential effect of the norm that The United States in particular knows the
weapon possessor state—itself included— underpins it: the idea that it is not appropriate power of strong, universal norms, especially
intends to join the treaty. Nor have states for any states to possess nuclear weapons. in the nuclear realm. For 50 years, the U.S.
protected by extended nuclear deterrence so In attempting to stigmatize nuclear weapons government has been the most important
far indicated any plans to join it. The talking among populations around the world, the force in promoting the universalization of the
point seems to suggest the treaty is point- treaty risks bringing attention to the devasta- Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear
less—it will not do the one thing it set out tion wrought by nuclear weapons to members Weapons (NPT) in order to promote a global
to accomplish, ridding the world of nuclear of the general public. Though nuclear weapon norm against the spread of nuclear weapons.
weapons. states do not plan to join the treaty today, they A 1992 cable from the U.S. State Department

to several U.S. embassies reads: “The NPT
has proved its value over the years: It has
Your Foundation Speaks established an international norm under
which virtually all nations view the further
spread of nuclear weapons a grave threat
by Loyal Park, Nebraska Peace Foundation President to regional and global security.” Recognizing
the value of a strong nonproliferation norm,

I want to report that, in spite of the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. government promoted the NPT to
all states, even those that had little interest
our investments in alternative energy and alternative in nuclear technology. As the U.S. Govern-
energy infrastructure are doing very well. For the first time ment Accountability Office explained in a
our permanent endowment has over $1 million invested. 1980 report on U.S. efforts to promote the
Our investments include Brookfield Renewable Partners NPT: “But countries with little or no nuclear
and Brookfield Renewable Corporation, Hannon Armstrong material are not ignored, as adherence by
just one additional state increases by two
Sustainable Infrastructure Capital and the difference between the number of parties
NextEra Energy and NextEra Energy and nonparties and thereby serves to further
Partners. Dividends, estimated to isolate the nonparty states.”
be nearly $40,000 annually from our Universal norms have power—U.S.
investments, go directly to support leaders know this. For proponents of nuclear
Nebraskans for Peace. deterrence like the U.S. government, the
norms of the NPT are strategically valuable
Please consider what you can do and because they allow the United States and
make a donation to Nebraska Peace four other states to maintain their nuclear
Foundation so we can add more weapons while keeping the rest of the world
renewable energy stocks to our portfolio. from possessing their own. In contrast, the
norm promoted by the ban treaty is meant to
apply to all states and so U.S. leaders fear
its long-term effects.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 NE REPORT, P. 4