Ms Bonnie Jenkins, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security at the Department of State of the United States of America, and Ambassador Fernando Arias, Director-General of the OPCW
THE HAGUE, Netherlands—26 November 2024—The Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ambassador Fernando Arias, met today with the United States Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, in the margins of the Twenty-Ninth Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CSP-29).
During the meeting, Under Secretary Jenkins and Director-General Arias discussed challenges, opportunities, and pathways for strengthening the global norm against chemical weapons amid an evolving international security climate. Under Secretary Jenkins reaffirmed the United States’ strong commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and its goals. Both officials stressed the critical importance of upholding the global norm against chemical weapons to ensure international peace and security.
Director-General Arias briefed Under Secretary Jenkins on the Organisation’s recent activities to address the threat of chemical weapons use, particularly in Ukraine and Syria. He gave an overview of the findings of the recent report on an OPCW Technical Assistance Visit to Ukraine.
Under Secretary Jenkins said: “Russia’s use of RCAs on the battlefield in Ukraine has been no secret. I commend the OPCW Technical Secretariat on its robust and professional report issued last week which confirmed the presence of riot control agents in Ukraine, as well as my gratitude for the integrity, dedication, and professionalism of OPCW personnel working on issues ranging from Syria to technical assistance.”
Discussions also touched upon efforts to prevent the re-emergence of chemical weapons, and advancing universality of the Convention by encouraging all States not yet Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention to join the global chemical disarmament regime.
Ms Bonnie Jenkins, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security at the Department of State of the United States of America, and Ambassador Fernando Arias, Director-General of the OPCW
Highlighting the role of the OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology (ChemTech Centre), Director-General Arias explained how the state-of-the-art facility is bolstering the Organisation’s scientific and technical capabilities.
“The ChemTech Centre enhances our ability to address both current and emerging challenges, ensuring the OPCW remains at the forefront of developments in science and technology,” the Director-General noted.
He emphasised that emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), are an area of focus for the Organisation as they present both threats and opportunities in chemical disarmament and non-proliferation. He noted that the OPCW is actively exploring ways to leverage these technologies to strengthen the implementation of the Convention while mitigating risks.
Director-General Arias concluded the meeting by underscoring the importance of the ongoing CSP-29: “The Conference presents an opportunity for States Parties to reaffirm their collective commitment to a world free of chemical weapons and to chart a path forward that addresses current security dynamics and strengthens the Convention’s implementation.”
Background
The United States of America has been an active member of the OPCW since the Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force in 1997. The USA is a member of the Executive Council, the OPCW’s executive organ, which is tasked with promoting the effective implementation of and compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention as well as supervising the activities of the Organisation’s Technical Secretariat.
As the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, the OPCW, with its 193 Member States, oversees the global endeavour to permanently eliminate chemical weapons. Since the Convention’s entry into force in 1997, it is the most successful disarmament treaty eliminating an entire class of weapons of mass destruction.
In 2023, the OPCW verified that all chemical weapons stockpiles declared by the 193 States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention since 1997 — totalling 72,304 metric tonnes of chemical agents — have been irreversibly destroyed under the OPCW’s strict verification regime.
For its extensive efforts in eliminating chemical weapons, the OPCW received the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize.