The P5 members called on all States to create a world without nuclear weapons with undiminished security for all
The P5 Members, United Kingdom (U.K.), France, United States (U.S.), China and Russia have signed a joint pledge to not to resort to nuclear war under any given circumstances.
They are referred as P5 as they are the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The statement also stressed that their biggest priority is to prevent escalations between nuclear-weapon states.
This comes at a time when there are major tensions between the P5 members. The U.S., U.K. and European Union (E.U.) have already warned Russia from invading Ukraine. Although Russia has denied reports that It intends to invade Ukraine, the U.S. and its allies have warned of severe consequences, if Russia invades Ukraine.
Separately, the ill-treatment of Uyghur Muslims in the far western region of Xinjiang in China has also been criticised by U.S., U.K. and E.U. The relations between China and U.S. also deteriorated during Donald Trump’s regime who failed to conclude a trade deal with China. Besides, the military activity around the self-governed island of Taiwan has spiked tensions between China, U.S. and its Pacific allies.
Releasing the joint statement on twitter, the President of Russia tweeted,
"There can be no winners in a nuclear war." Leaders of nuclear-weapons states issued a joint statement https://t.co/fzaKZGxAPO
— President of Russia (@KremlinRussia_E) January 3, 2022
A Joint Statement read, “A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. As nuclear use would have far-reaching consequences, we also affirm that nuclear weapons — for as long as they continue to exist — should serve defensive purposes, deter aggression, and prevent war.”
The P5 members called on all States to create a security environment more conducive to progress on disarmament with the ultimate goal of a world without nuclear weapons with undiminished security for all. They also agreed to adhere to the 1970 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) which obligates them to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament.
The Director-General of the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Arms Control Department – Fu Cong, said that Beijing remained committed to a policy of no first use and deterrence, despite modernizing its nuclear capabilities.
He said, “Nuclear weapons are the ultimate deterrence. They are not for war fighting. By saying that nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought shows that this is an understanding shared by all the P5. So it is important that we have this in mind while we talk about the tension.”
The Spokesperson for Foreign Ministry of Russia – Maria Zakharova said that the five-nation statement was initiated by Moscow with the intention of it being released in coordination with a review of the NPT.
The pledge was negotiated through diplomatic channels and comprehensively reflects the positions of the parties and the leaders. The pledge also says to work towards a world free of nuclear power.
Russia is believed to have the world’s biggest stockpile of nuclear warheads, followed by the U.S., China, France and U.K.
