CSRs Parthemore & Gower Speak at the 24th International Conference on Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation

The document outlines the strategic importance of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in a global security landscape characterized by a severe trust deficit and the collapse of many arms control treaties. The authors argue that the CWC serves as a vital remaining pillar for international cooperation on nonproliferation. They highlight risks of chemical weapons proliferation driven by hybrid warfare, technological convergence of chemistry and biology, and the erosion of the 'taboo' against chemical weapon use. The text recommends maintaining technical 'on-ramps' for future elimination missions, shifting toward 'deterrence by denial' through enhanced defensive capabilities, and increasing public awareness of WMD risks and historical elimination successes.

• The current global security environment is marked by a profound trust deficit and the collapse of most bilateral and multilateral arms control treaties, leaving the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC) as the few remaining global WMD frameworks.
• The 'taboo' against the use of chemical weapons is fragile and diminishing, as it is a relatively recent concept born from the CWC and has been regularly violated by states, including Russia and Syria.
• Technological convergence between chemistry and biology, specifically biological production of chemicals and synthetic biology, is identified as a driver that may alter how nations view weapons capabilities and create new risks.
• Experts suggest that in an era of hybrid warfare, some actors may view chemical and biological weapons as both tools for deterrence and as acceptable for targeted attacks.
• The authors recommend maintaining 'on-ramps'—infrastructure, institutional knowledge, and technical expertise—to ensure the international community can rapidly respond to future WMD elimination needs, even after current declared stockpiles are destroyed.
• There is a strategic need to shift from 'deterrence by punishment' (which often relies on an unlikely nuclear response to a chemical attack) toward 'deterrence by denial' by strengthening CBRN defensive and response capabilities to make attacks ineffective.
• The successful elimination of chemical weapons in Syria between 2011 and 2014 demonstrated that coalition building, flexibility in technical solutions (such as neutralization at sea), and political agreements like the Geneva Kerry-Lavrov agreement are essential for WMD threat reduction.

APA

Parthemore, C., & Gower, J. (2022). CSRs Parthemore & Gower Speak at the 24th International Conference on Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation. The Council on Strategic Risks. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2022/10/26/csrs-parthemore-gower-speak-at-the-24th-international-conference-on-chemical-weapons-demilitarisation/

Chicago

Parthemore, Christine, and John Gower. CSRs Parthemore & Gower Speak at the 24th International Conference on Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation. The Council on Strategic Risks, 2022. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2022/10/26/csrs-parthemore-gower-speak-at-the-24th-international-conference-on-chemical-weapons-demilitarisation/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Parthemore |first1=Christine |last2=Gower |first2=John |title=CSRs Parthemore & Gower Speak at the 24th International Conference on Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation |publisher=The Council on Strategic Risks |date=26 October 2022 |url=https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2022/10/26/csrs-parthemore-gower-speak-at-the-24th-international-conference-on-chemical-weapons-demilitarisation/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{parthemore2022csrs, author = {Parthemore, Christine and Gower, John}, title = {{CSRs Parthemore \& Gower Speak at the 24th International Conference on Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation}}, publisher = {The Council on Strategic Risks}, year = {2022}, month = oct, url = {https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2022/10/26/csrs-parthemore-gower-speak-at-the-24th-international-conference-on-chemical-weapons-demilitarisation/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }