Twelfth Ministerial Meeting of the Friends of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).

The 12th Ministerial Meeting of the Friends of Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) celebrates the 30th anniversary of the opening for signature of the Treaty through the theme, "The CTBT at 30: Reflecting on Progress, Shaping the Future". The CTBT Friends are Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Japan and the Netherlands. The Meeting will be co-chaired by Australia and Japan, and moderated by the Foreign Minister of Australia, Senator the Hon Penny Wong.

"The CTBT at 30: Reflecting on Progress, Shaping the Future" was the official theme of the 12th Ministerial Meeting of the Friends of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) held at the UN Headquarters in New York. Co-chaired by Australia and Japan, the event marked 30 years since the treaty opened for signature in September 1996. It served as both a celebration of the near-universal global norm established against nuclear testing and a critical forum for addressing modern geopolitical challenges threatening that norm.

📈 Reflecting on Progress.
Over the last three decades, the CTBT has reshaped global nuclear non-proliferation architecture:
Establishing a Global Norm: Before the treaty opened for signature, more than 2,000 nuclear test explosions had been conducted worldwide; since 1996, that number has fallen to fewer than a dozen.
Near-Universal Adoption: Support for the treaty has grown substantially, reaching 188 signatories and 179 ratifications, including recent milestones like the complete universalization of the treaty across the Pacific region following Tonga's ratification.
The International Monitoring System (IMS): The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) has built an unprecedented verification regime featuring over 300 monitoring facilities. This global network leaves no test undetected, successfully picking up all declared nuclear tests conducted in the 21st century.
Civil and Scientific Benefits: Beyond security, state-of-the-art IMS data is actively leveraged by member states for civic advancements, such as enhancing real-time tsunami warning systems.

🌐 Shaping the Future.
Despite its undeniable successes, the CTBT has still not formally entered into force because it lacks the necessary ratifications from specific Annex 2 states. Looking forward, the international community faces critical hurdles to safeguard the treaty's future:
Geopolitical Strains: The treaty's foundation faces severe pressure, most notably following the Russian Federation's decision to "de-ratify" the treaty, alongside growing concerns over potential nuclear test readiness by other major powers.
Pushing for Entry into Force: Ministerial leaders issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to diplomatic advocacy and universalization, emphasizing that full entry into force is necessary to unlock the comprehensive range of verification tools, such as mandatory on-site inspections.

Watch the twelfth Ministerial Meeting of the Friends of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)!

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