Topic: 2025 – No First Use Policies and Nuclear Disarmament
Country: Bangladesh
Delegate Name: Henry Walser
Disarmament and International Security Committee
No First Use Policies and Nuclear Disarmament
The People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Henry Walser
Forest Hills Northern
No First Use (NFU) policies are formal pledges by countries never to be the first to engage in nuclear conflict. Such commitments serve as confidence-building measures and significantly reduce the risk of wars escalating to the nuclear level. In 1998 China declared a NFU policy making it one of the only two countries to do so. China is the only country to have an unconditional NFU policy. India being the second country with an officially implemented NFU policy. Unlike China, India’s policy is conditional, India reserves the right to use nuclear weapons if an extreme biological attack occurs. Nuclear superpowers such as the United States, Russia, and the United Kingdom have not committed to a NFU policy and still reserve the right to use nuclear weapons if their territory or allies are attacked. One reason for this is the prospect of nuclear weaponry deter attacks, and if NUF policies are implemented this threat is not applicable to non-nuclear but still damaging attacks. The United Nations has long worked toward the control of nuclear weapons through the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). This central treaty for nuclear control opened for signature in 1968 and was put into force in 1970. This treaty works to limit pre-existing nuclear arsenals, limit the spread of nuclear weapons to new countries, and promotes safe uses of nuclear power and development. Additionally, the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1996, however, it has not been put into action due to several Annex-2 states (44 states believed to have nuclear potential or be significant in the topic of nuclear weaponry) not signing. And General Assembly resolutions encouraging states to adopt NFU policies and implement measures that reduce nuclear risks.
Bangladesh has unconditionally agreed to become non-nuclear acceding to NPT on September 27th 1979. They insist on upholding article VI of NPT, which they acceded to on September 27th 1979. This article encourages all countries to cooperate in the negotiation of the reduction and elimination of nuclear weaponry. Bangladesh actively participates in NPT Preparatory Committee as well as advocates for nuclear disarmament and risk reduction while participating in the UN General Assembly. They are also members of ICAN and Bangladesh has signed on to TPNW. Bangladesh believes the existence of nuclear weapons diverts resources from health care and education. According to estimates the US alone spends 40 billion dollars a year on maintaining and storing nuclear warheads. The disarmament of nuclear weapons is critical not just for protecting military forces during wartime, but for the protection and well being of civilians outside of wartime scenarios. Bangladesh is positioned between two nuclear armed countries, India and Pakistan. India with a nuclear arsenal of 160 (2025) and Pakistan with a nuclear arsenal of 170 (2025). Along with the tense nuclear climate in South Asia, the need for NFU policies and nuclear disarmament is critical. Bangladesh urges the implementation of NFU policies to all countries with a nuclear arsenal allowing resources to be allocated towards education, healthcare, and poverty reduction, as well as preserving human life in an escalating time of war.
Bangladesh wants to limit the threat of nuclear weapons as they create risk in wartime scenarios as well as divert government money from healthcare, education, and limiting poverty. Bangladesh would like more countries to adopt NFU policies or create more concrete agreements limiting the threat of nuclear weapons, such as ratifying CTBT. In order for this to be implemented, it would require the cooperation of the entirety of the UN as new regulations are made. Bangladesh proposes that the UN general assembly establish a dedicated framework to verify adherence to NFU policies and promote transparency among nuclear-armed states. These regulations being implemented, along with the standardization of NFU policies would allow funds to be diverted to directly helping people rather than being spent on storage and maintaining warheads that will statistically never be used. It would also align with the UN’s sustainable development goals when it comes to peace and justice. Bangladesh believes reducing nuclear risk is necessary for safety and development.
