Rarotonga and Pelindaba: Pitfalls and Paths Forward

On May 3rd, 2010 at the beginning of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in New York, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced the United States would submit the protocols of the South Pacific Nuclear-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Rarotonga) and the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zone Treaty (Pelindaba Treaty) to the United States Senate for ratification. The United States selectively signed the protocols of both treaties in 1996 but failed to ratify them. These two treaties, the Pelindaba Treaty and the Treaty of Rarotonga) collectively foreswear the research, development, manufacture, stockpiling, acquisition, possession or control over any nuclear explosive device by any means. These two nuclear weapon-free zone (NWFZ) treaties, along with their counterparts in Latin America, Central Asia and Southeast Asia, are a mainstay of the nonproliferation regime as well as important success stories in the midst of fears about Iran, North Korea and other proliferators. As in other nuclear weapon-free zone treaties (NWFZ), these treaties call on the five nuclear powers under the NPT to ratify the protocols governing the use of nuclear weapons in their respective zones. Both treaties include substantial and important negative security assurances to states party to the treaties. This paper will outline both pitfalls and paths forward (domestic and international) for the ratification of the treaties. Second, the paper will discuss the substantial, positive and demonstrable effects of ratification on the President Obama’s nuclear agenda as well as the nuclear nonproliferation regime more broadly. As well, there is little understanding and interest in this issue in Congress and it is my hope that this paper will provide a succinct and informative resource to those involved in the Senate advice and consent process when the protocols are submitted. As the Obama Administration plans to submit the treaties for advice and consent soon and little has been written about the treaties in recent years, I hope this paper will constructively impact on the debate.