US urges countries to withdraw from UN nuke ban treaty

United States is urging countries that have ratified a UN treaty to ban nuclear weapons to withdraw ir support as pact nears 50 ratifications needed to trigger its entry into force, which supporters say could happen this week.

US letter to signatories, obtained by Associated Press, says five original nuclear powers -- US, Russia, China, Britain and France -- and America's NATO allies “stand unified in our opposition to potential repercussions” of treaty.

It says treaty “turns back clock on verification and disarmament and is dangerous” to half-century-old Nuclear nproliferation Treaty, considered cornerstone of global nproliferation efforts.

“Although we recognize your sovereign right to ratify or accede to Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), we believe that you have me a strategic error and should withdraw your instrument of ratification or accession,” letter says.

treaty requires that all ratifying countries “never under any circumstances ... develop, test, produce, manufacture, orwise acquire, possess or stockpile nuclear weapons or or nuclear explosive devices.” It also bans any transfer or use of nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices — and threat to use such weapons -- and requires parties to promote treaty to or countries.

Beatrice Fihn, executive director of International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, 2017 bel Peace Prize-winning coalition whose work helped spearhe nuclear ban treaty, told Associated Press Tuesday that several diplomatic sources confirmed that y and or states that ratified TPNW h been sent letters by US requesting ir withdrawal.

She said “increasing nervousness, and maybe straightforward panic, with some of nuclear-armed states and particularly Trump ministration” shows that y “really seem to understand that this is a reality: Nuclear weapons are going to be banned under international law soon.” Fihn dismissed nuclear powers' claim that treaty interferes with Nuclear nproliferation Treaty as “straightforward lies, to be frank.” “y have actual argument to back that up,” she said.

“ nproliferation Treaty is about preventing spre of nuclear weapons and eliminating nuclear weapons, and this treaty implements that. re's way you can undermine nproliferation Treaty by banning nuclear weapons. It's end goal of nproliferation Treaty.” NPT sought to prevent spre of nuclear arms beyond five original weapons powers. It requires n-nuclear signatory nations to t pursue atomic weapons in exchange for a commitment by five powers to move toward nuclear disarmament and to guarantee n-nuclear states' access to peaceful nuclear techlogy for producing energy.

“That Trump ministration is pressuring countries to withdraw from a United Nations-backed disarmament treaty is an unprecedented action in international relations,” Fihn said.

“That U.S. goes so far as insisting countries violate ir treaty obligations by t promoting TPNW to or states shows how fearful y are of treaty's impact and growing support.” treaty was approved by 193-member U.N. General Assembly on July 7, 2017 by a vote of 122 in favor, Nerlands opposed, and Singapore abstaining. Among countries voting in favour was Iran. five nuclear powers and four or countries kwn or believed to possess nuclear weapons — India, Pakistan, rth Korea and Israel — boycotted negotiations and vote on treaty, along with many of ir allies.

treaty currently has 47 ratifications and needs 50 ratifications to trigger its entry into force in 90 days.

Fihn said re are about 10 countries that are trying very hard to ratify to get to 50, “and we kw that re are a few governments that are working towards Friday as date. ... We're t 100 percent it will happen, but hopefully it will.” Friday has been an ufficial target because it is eve of United Nations Day on Oct. 24 which marks anniversary of entry into force in 1945 of U.N. Charter.

day has been observed since 1948 and this year is 75th anniversary of founding of U.N.

Fihn stressed that entry into force of treaty will be “a really big deal” because it will become part of international law and will be raised in discussions on disarmament, war crimes and weapons.

“And I think that over time pressure will grow on nuclear-armed states to join treaty,” she said.