A Chemical Weapons-Free Middle East

Three weeks ago Egypt walked out of a preparatory committee meeting for the 2015 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in protest at the lack of progress toward holding a conference on a weapons of mass destruction (WMD)–free zone in the Middle East. The deadline had been arbitrarily set in 2010 for 2012. Given destabilizing state systems, shifting regional alignments, and overall ongoing conflict in the Middle East, it is no surprise that convening a conference last year proved impossible. Even in times of relative peace, the issues surrounding arms control and disarmament in the Middle East are complex. The linkage of all WMD (nuclear, biological, chemical weapons and missiles) in particular has hardened the decades-long stalemate.

DIIS Researcher, Cindy Vestergaard, and Visiting Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) highlights in a recent policy piece how it is precisely because of the events unfolding in the Middle East that all sides need to come to the negotiating table, especially on chemical weapons (CW) if not on all WMD. Claims of CW use in Syria, regardless of origin, should motivate regional and global leaders to take steps to finally eliminate this cruel weapon from the region.

To view this policy perspective, go to the CSIS website