WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION: THE STATE OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE AMID RISING THREATS & EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES

The report examines the global governance of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), noting a trend of weakening norms and rising threats. While highlighting successes like the 97% destruction of declared chemical weapons stockpiles and the near-universality of the NPT, CWC, and BWC, it warns of a new nuclear arms race and the increasing use of chemical weapons. It identifies critical gaps in verification—particularly for biological weapons—and the risks posed by technological convergence, such as synthetic biology and AI. The author recommends augmenting existing regimes with ad hoc mechanisms, increasing experiential learning for policymakers, and focusing on eliminating specific destabilizing capabilities like nuclear cruise missiles.

• The international community has achieved significant success in eliminating chemical weapons, with approximately 97% of declared stockpiles verifiably destroyed as of mid-2019.
• Global nuclear weapon stockpiles have decreased significantly from a peak of approximately 70,300 in 1986 to an estimated 13,890 in early-2019, primarily due to US and Russian bilateral agreements.
• Core WMD treaties maintain near-universal participation, with 191 parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), 193 to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), and 183 to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC).
• Norms against WMD use are eroding, evidenced by the continued use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government, North Korea, and Russia, as well as the resumption of nuclear testing by North Korea.
• A new nuclear arms race has emerged, with the United States and Russia pursuing new capabilities and China, India, and Pakistan seeking a 'nuclear triad' (delivery via air, land, and sea).
• The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) contains a critical inherent gap because it lacks provisions for verifying that signatories are abiding by its requirements and has no implementing arm similar to the OPCW.
• Technological advances in additive manufacturing, synthetic biology, and machine learning are making WMD production faster, cheaper, and easier to conceal from government monitoring.
• The report recommends a shift toward eliminating specific destabilizing capabilities, such as nuclear cruise missiles, as a more politically viable path toward nuclear disarmament.

APA

PARTHEMORE, C. (2019). WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION: THE STATE OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE AMID RISING THREATS & EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES. The Council on Strategic Risks. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Weapons-of-Mass-Destruction_The-State-of-Global-Governance_2019_10_20.pdf

Chicago

PARTHEMORE, CHRISTINE. WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION: THE STATE OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE AMID RISING THREATS & EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES. The Council on Strategic Risks, 2019. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Weapons-of-Mass-Destruction_The-State-of-Global-Governance_2019_10_20.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=PARTHEMORE |first1=CHRISTINE |title=WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION: THE STATE OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE AMID RISING THREATS & EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES |publisher=The Council on Strategic Risks |date=October 2019 |url=https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Weapons-of-Mass-Destruction_The-State-of-Global-Governance_2019_10_20.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{parthemore2019weapons, author = {PARTHEMORE, CHRISTINE}, title = {{WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION: THE STATE OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE AMID RISING THREATS \& EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES}}, institution = {The Council on Strategic Risks}, year = {2019}, month = oct, url = {https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Weapons-of-Mass-Destruction_The-State-of-Global-Governance_2019_10_20.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }