Topic: 2025 – No First Use Policies and Nuclear Disarmament
Country: Canada
Delegate Name: Mason Velie
Committee: Disarmament and International Security Committee
Topic: No First Use Policies and Nuclear Disarmament
Country: Canada
School: Forest Hills Central High School
No First Use Policies and Nuclear Disarmament
In an age where a nuclear war between just 2 major powers could result in 2-5 billion deaths, nuclear security is vital to our survival as a species. As of 2025, No First Use policies (NFUs) have only been adopted by one country, leaving a further eight nuclear powers that do not have a policy. NFUs are defined by the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation as “…a commitment to not use nuclear weapons first.” The Center also stated that “An NFU policy would restrict when a president could consider using nuclear weapons,” which would undoubtedly help to prevent nuclear weapons being used as a result of rash decisions made by a single leader in a moment of weakness. Nuclear disarmament, another viable option for nuclear threat reduction, is defined by Merriam-Webster as “the process of reducing in number or completely eliminating a country’s nuclear weapons.” This course of action would also reduce the risk of a major nuclear conflict, with the Arms Control Association calling it, “a necessary step toward a world without nuclear weapons.”
Past UN treaties pertaining to nuclear weapon reduction and policy include the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban-Treaty, with the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons still open for signature. Canada voted for the first two, but has consistently voted against the final treaty. Currently, having consistently taken an anti-nuclear weapon stance, Canada is not in possession of any nuclear weapons, and, despite having access to the necessary technology, no plans are in place to build them.
Canada supports No First Use policies, as they are the most effective currently possible method of preventing future nuclear conflicts, and advises delegates to support NFUs that are brought to the committee. Canada remains neutral on nuclear disarmament, but encourages future discussion. Canada urges delegates to consider the problems arising from nuclear weapons and act to best prevent these potential issues from turning into reality.
