Publication

When it comes to international disarmament efforts, the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is an important achievement. Nevertheless, the two authors of this analysis have two nagging concerns – the growing tensions between the states parties to the treaty, and new scientific developments, which may make chemical weapons more relevant in the future. While grappling with these worries, the authors additionally look at 1) the purpose of the treaty and its membership role; 2) the ongoing decommissioning of chemical weapons; 3) Syria’s accession to the CWC in 2013 and the impact it has had on the OPCW, the body that implements the treaty; 4) the verification challenges surrounding chemical weapon destruction and deterrence; and 5) the future role of the OPCW.