8-7-2023 (THE HAGUE) The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) announced on Friday that all declared chemical weapons of all States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) have been successfully destroyed, as the United States destroyed its last batch of declared chemical weapons.
In a press release, the OPCW stated that the final chemical munition from the United States’ declared chemical weapons stockpile was “irreversibly destroyed” at a facility in Kentucky earlier in the day.
OPCW Director-General Fernando Arias expressed his congratulations to all States Parties for this significant achievement for the international community. He described the completion of the destruction of all declared chemical weapons stockpiles as a crucial milestone for the organization and a major step towards fulfilling its mission of permanently eliminating chemical weapons.
Arias highlighted the historic success of multilateralism in disarmament and credited the dedicated work of diplomats and experts over the past 26 years for this accomplishment.
However, Arias also emphasized that there are still challenges ahead that require continued attention from the international community. These include the recovery and destruction of “abandoned and old chemical weapons” that pose a threat if left unattended.
According to the OPCW, since the entry into force of the CWC in 1997, the organization has verified the destruction of 72,304.34 tons of stockpiled chemical weapons declared by countries worldwide.
As the implementing body for the CWC, the OPCW, with its 193 member states, is responsible for overseeing the global effort to permanently eliminate chemical weapons.
In recognition of its extensive efforts in eliminating chemical weapons, the OPCW was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013.
