Topic: 2026 – Proliferation of Ballistic Missiles
Country: Seychelles
Delegate Name: Addisyn McLaughlin
Historically, The Republic of Seychelles has firmly opposed the proliferation of ballistic missiles, subscribing to the Hague Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCoC) created in 2002 to promote honesty surrounding ballistic missile production and operation among its 145 signatories. Seychelles is not a producer of ballistic missiles, and therefore has no strategic reason to support their development. As a Small Island Developing State, proliferation of missiles only increases risks Seychelles cannot defend itself against. In 2004, the UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (UNSCR 1540), which requires all member states to enforce laws preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, was adopted unanimously. Seychelles submitted several reports to the resulting UN 1540 Committee detailing its implementation of UNSCR 1540, further demonstrating its commitment to global disarmament.
Currently, Seychelles continues its commitment to minimizing the proliferation of ballistic missiles. As an island positioned in the Indian Ocean, Seychelles works to protect vital trade routes, partnering in Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG), an international coalition formed by the United States of America in 2023 to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. OPG was designed in part to help minimize the transport of weapons of mass destruction overseas. Seychelles also ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in 2021, the first legally binding international agreement to prohibit nuclear weapons with over 70 ratifications since its adoption in 2017.
The Seychelles Air Force and Coast Guard continuously monitor the Exclusive Economic Zone (EZZ) in an effort to prevent unauthorized activities. Seychelles also frequently collaborates with the U.S. navy to improve regional security. Through participation in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), Seychelles works to eliminate the illegal trafficking of ballistic missiles. As noted by the Nuclear Weapons Ban Monitor, an annual report managed by Norwegian People’s Aid to track global progress towards the elimination of nuclear weapons, Seychelles has made significant contributions to the international effort to eliminate weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.
Seychelles’ location poses a significant risk as major world powers such as India and China are in constant geopolitical competition over commercial interests around Africa and the Indian Ocean. China possesses the world’s largest land-based missile force, with over 2,500 ballistic missiles in its possession. The People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) is the fourth branch of China’s military, aiming to develop weapons of mass destruction capable of intercontinental travel. In addition, India produces over forty different missile types, including nuclear and submarine-launched weapons. These weapons pose a dangerous threat to Seychelles if used to engage in intercontinental warfare, especially considering its location in the Indian Ocean and its subsequent proximity to vital trade routes susceptible to attack during international disputes.
