Strengthening Global Nuclear Disarmament: The Role of Non-nuclear Weapons States

With the success of the 2010 NPT Review Conference in the balance, this project seeks to build support among leading non-nuclear weapon states for key nuclear arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation initiatives.

The project’s activities consist of a series of international dialogue meetings and in-country consultations and exchanges with senior politicians, government officials and influential experts in these states. The purpose is two-fold: a) to generate greater consensus among the non-nuclear weapon states on how, in co-operation with the nuclear weapon states, they can help to move forward the debate leading to a successful outcome to the 2010 NPT Review Conference; and b) to promote concrete progress toward realizing the vision of a nuclear weapons-free world, as called for by four former US officials—George Shultz, Sam Nunn, Henry Kissinger and William Perry, collectively dubbed ‘the four statesmen’.

The project’s activities have been planned to coincide with the most important international meetings on disarmament and nonproliferation in 2009–10: the Preparatory Committee meeting for the 2010 NPT Review Conference (New York, May 2009); the opening of the United Nations General Assembly (New York, September 2009); and the meeting of the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly (New York, October 2009). Shortly before the 2010 Review Conference, a Final Report will be published containing findings and recommendations to the state Parties to the Conference on ways to strengthen the NPT regime and to build momentum toward nuclear disarmament.

The project’s activities are supported by a generous grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.