In its final statement, the G7 said it was necessary to fight for a world without nuclear weapons, much to the effort of founder Rob de Wijk of the Center for Strategic Studies in The Hague. “It’s been an argument that’s been going on for decades,” he says. “People think you can uninvent nuclear weapons.”
Something that is therefore not possible, according to De Wijk. It was the same when Barack Obama won the US presidential election, he points out. “Shortly afterwards he gave a big speech in Prague, in which he said that during his presidency he would fight for a world without nuclear weapons,” says De Wijk. “But then he modernized the US nuclear arsenal. Nothing ever came of it after that.”
“Obama said he wanted to fight for a world without nuclear weapons, but then he modernized the nuclear arsenal”
According to De Wijk, all ‘self-respecting leaders’ who want to do good in the world say that nuclear disarmament will take place under their rule. “And if you look at the communiqué from the G7 summit in Hiroshima, you see that the G7 leaders have adopted a vision on nuclear disarmament,” explains De Wijk. “This is the Hiroshima Declaration, and it says nothing at all.”
Empty sentences and empty words
In the communiqué, G7 leaders call for realism, pragmatism and accountability, with the current non-proliferation agreement as the ‘cornerstone’ of the policy. “This means that the proliferation of nuclear weapons should not extend further into the world than it currently does,” explains De Wijk. “But when it was drafted, nuclear weapons were not intended to extend beyond the five permanent members of the Security Council. And that happened.’
Especially since the presence of nuclear weapons keeps certain world powers under control, argues Arend Jan Boekestijn. Although no concrete evidence was ever provided, according to Boekestijn, it appears that the Cold War remained cold because nuclear weapons were present. “So there’s a lot to be said for not eliminating these things,” Boekestijn says. “Besides, you can’t uninvent them. Knowledge is open, and should you abolish them – if at all – there will always be one Freelance who will do them anyway, only to be taken seriously.’
consent
Furthermore, Boekestijn is convinced that a consensus cannot be reached among the great powers on a possible abolition of nuclear weapons. “The United States won’t do it, certainly not China, and neither will Russia,” he concludes. “In other words, it’s just a piano with no strings.”
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
