| Summary/Abstract |
Adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in July 2017 was a major event in the history of seven decades of policies and campaigns for non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament. In this, the role of non-nuclear weapon states (NNWSs) should not be underestimated. However, the treaty’s adoption would require bringing it into force by making use of the political momentum thus far generated. This will not be easy to do due to the position of the nuclear-weapon states and their allies. Hence, continued mutual support and cooperation among the NNWSs is vital, and working with the states under 'nuclear umbrella' will need to be pursued. The article also underlines the continued role of the civil society, both national and international, of nuclear weapon-free zones (NWFZs), and even of individual states contributing to practical nuclear disarmament. As an example of the latter, it examines Mongolia’s role and the challenges it faced when promoting its nuclear weapon-free status policy. The experience underlines the importance of greater understanding of the legitimate interests of each other and willingness to jointly address the issues of common concern, of working patiently in a low-key manner rather than pursuing immediate gains or headline-grabbing effects. The P5 joint declaration of 2012 regarding Mongolia’s status rules out using the country in future regional geopolitical rivalries and as such contributes to greater predictability, stability and confidence. The article also suggests the need for a renewed look at NWFZs from the perspective of twenty-first century technical developments and requirements.
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