122 countries adopt global treaty banning nuclear weapons – but US says it ‘disregards realities’
Within hours of its adoption, the US, Britain and France rejected the treaty and said they have no intention of joining it
A global treaty banning nuclear weapons was adopted at the UN on Friday despite opposition from nuclear powers Britain, France and the United States which said it disregards the reality of dealing with international security threats such as North Korea.
The treaty was adopted by a vote of 122 in favour with one country – Nato member The Netherlands – voting against, while Singapore abstained.
None of the nine countries that possess nuclear weapons – the US, Russia, Britain, China, France, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel – took part in the negotiations or the vote.
Even Japan – the only country to have suffered atomic attacks, in 1945 – boycotted the talks as did most Nato countries.
Loud applause and cheers broke out in a UN conference hall following the vote that capped three weeks of negotiations on the text providing for a total ban on developing, stockpiling or threatening to use nuclear weapons.
This initiative clearly disregards the realities of the international security environment
Within hours of its adoption, the US, Britain and France rejected the treaty and said they have no intention of joining it.