In a Friday statement released from the White House briefing room, Joe Biden emphasized the urgent need to renew the commitment to rid the world of chemical weapons ahead of the Fifth Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Biden highlighted the “horrors” caused by these weapons and underscored the global resolve to ensure they are never developed or deployed again.
“Chemical weapons have wrought unthinkable horrors upon our world, and should never again be developed or deployed—period. That’s the commitment the world made when the Chemical Weapons Convention created the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in 1997—and it’s a commitment we must renew every day until our world is free from the threat of chemical weapons,” he said.
The United States, as a leader in this endeavor, is making significant progress toward the complete destruction of its own chemical weapons stockpile, according to the release.
Biden announced that the nation is on track to achieve this disarmament milestone by the fall of this year, adhering to the highest standards of transparency and public safety.
“We are steadfast in our support for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons’ new Center for Chemistry and Technology,” President Biden asserted, emphasizing the importance of bolstering the Organization’s capabilities in verification, inspection, and attribution responsibilities.
He further emphasized the need to enhance the capacities of nations around the world to effectively counter chemical weapons.
Biden called upon all nations to join hands and encourage remaining countries to become signatories to the Chemical Weapons Convention.
He highlighted the necessity for collective efforts in promoting accountability for treaty violations, specifically mentioning Syria’s use of sarin and chlorine, as well as Russia’s use of Novichok nerve agents.
“The use of chemical weapons is never acceptable, and the world can be assured that the United States will not rest in this fight against impunity,” Biden affirmed.
Expressing solidarity with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Biden reaffirmed the United States’ unwavering commitment to prevent the production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons worldwide.
He stressed the importance of ensuring a world where all children can grow up without the scourge of chemical weapons.
