Embassy and Permanent Mission of the State of Eritrea in Geneva
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Eritrea and Disarmament: Balancing Security and Regional Stability
As a relatively young nation that gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after a prolonged struggle, Eritrea's stance on disarmament and its participation in disarmament treaties are vital to understanding its approach to security, regional stability, and international relations.
Disarmament treaties are essential instruments for promoting global and regional peace and security. They aim to reduce or eliminate specific categories of weapons, including weapons of mass destruction (nuclear, chemical, and biological) and conventional arms. Such treaties are crucial for preventing arms races, decreasing the likelihood of armed conflict, and mitigating the humanitarian and environmental impacts of weapons.
Eritrea's engagement with disarmament treaties is shaped by its security concerns, regional dynamics, and relationships with neighboring countries and the international community. Its strategic location along the Red Sea, bordering Sudan, Ethiopia, and Djibouti, places it at the heart of a volatile region with a history of conflicts and tensions.
A significant aspect of Eritrea's involvement in disarmament efforts is its relationship with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). This treaty seeks to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and technology, promote cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and further the goal of nuclear disarmament. Eritrea’s participation in the NPT illustrates its commitment to preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons, despite not possessing a nuclear arsenal.
Eritrea's disarmament initiatives extend beyond nuclear weapons. The country has actively participated in discussions and agreements aimed at controlling the spread of small arms and light weapons, which are particularly concerning in the Horn of Africa due to their role in internal and cross-border conflicts. Efforts to regulate the flow of these weapons are essential for enhancing peace and security in the region.
The post-independence period for Eritrea has been marked by border disputes, most notably with Ethiopia, which led to a devastating border war from 1998 to 2000. These conflicts have implications for Eritrea's disarmament efforts, requiring the nation to balance its security needs with commitments to regional and international peace initiatives.
Eritrea acceded to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production, and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction on August 27, 2001, with the Convention entering into force for Eritrea on February 1, 2002. Additionally, Eritrea signed and ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) on November 11, 2003, increasing the total number of treaty ratifications to 108. In the African region, out of 53 states, 48 have signed the treaty, and 19 have ratified it, with worldwide signatures now totaling 170.
Eritrea also acceded to the Chemical Weapons Convention on February 14, 2000, becoming the 130th State Party on March 15, 2000, thirty days after depositing its instrument of accession with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Currently, there are 41 signatory states that have yet to ratify the Convention.
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), established on April 29, 1997, aims to achieve four main objectives: the elimination of chemical weapons and the capacity to develop them, verification of non-proliferation, international assistance and protection in the event of chemical weapons use or threat, and cooperation in the peaceful use of chemistry.
Treaties and International Organizations to Which Eritrea is a Party:
Status
Eritrea has not yet signed or ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
National Position
Eritrea advocates for universal adherence to the TPNW and has voted in favor of an annual UN General Assembly resolution since 2018 that calls upon all states to sign, ratify, or accede to the treaty “at the earliest possible date.” In 2022, Eritrea declared the use and threat of nuclear weapons to be “illegal and immoral” and identified the universalization of the TPNW as a critical step towards complete denuclearization. The country voiced its support for the TPNW in a statement to the United Nations in 2020 and in 2019 stated that ratification of this “landmark” treaty would help achieve “a world free of nuclear arms.”
TPNW Negotiations
Eritrea participated in the negotiation of the TPNW at the United Nations in New York in 2017 and was among the 122 states that voted in favor of its adoption. In 2016, Eritrea supported the UN General Assembly resolution that established the formal mandate for negotiations on “a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination.”
Before the Negotiations
Eritrea was among 127 states that endorsed a “humanitarian pledge” in 2015–2016 to cooperate “in efforts to stigmatize, prohibit, and eliminate nuclear weapons.” This pledge was instrumental in generating momentum and support for the TPNW negotiations.
Thus, Eritrea’s engagement with disarmament treaties is shaped by its unique geopolitical context, security concerns, and the broader goal of promoting peace and stability in the Horn of Africa and beyond. Despite the challenges, Eritrea's participation in disarmament reflects its role in the intricate interplay of regional security dynamics and international peace initiatives.