Nicaragua

Nuclear-weapon-free state

Has joined the TPNW

SIGNED

RATIFIED

IN FORCE

SIGNED

22 September 2017

RATIFIED

19 July 2018

IN FORCE

22 January 2021

Status

Nicaragua has signed and ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). It was among the original 50 states parties to the treaty when it entered into force on 22 January 2021.

Signature and ratification

María Rubiales de Chamorro, the vice-minister for foreign affairs of Nicaragua, signed the TPNW in New York on 22 September 2017, two days after it opened for signature. She deposited the country’s instrument of ratification with the UN secretary-general on 19 July 2018.

Nicaragua was the 12th state to ratify or accede to the treaty.

María Rubiales de Chamorro, the vice-minister for foreign affairs of Nicaragua, signs the TPNW in 2017. Photo: UNOLA

Rubiales de Chamorro deposits Nicaragua’s instrument of ratification in 2018. Photo: UNOLA

National position

In 2022, Nicaragua welcomed the TPNW’s entry into force, “which for the first time in history prohibits the existence, use, and threat of use of nuclear weapons and even nuclear tests”. It also noted that the TPNW complements the Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1968 and called for its universalisation.

Implementation

In accordance with Article 2 of the TPNW, Nicaragua submitted a declaration to the UN secretary-general on 13 January 2021 confirming that it does not own, possess, or control nuclear weapons, has never done so, and does not host any other state’s nuclear weapons on its territory.

As required by Article 3, Nicaragua has a comprehensive safeguards agreement in force with the International Atomic Energy Agency to guard against the misuse of nuclear facilities and materials. It also has an additional protocol in force.

Per Article 12, Nicaragua has promoted universal adherence to the TPNW, including by co-sponsoring and consistently voting in favour of an annual UN General Assembly resolution since 2018 that calls upon all states to sign, ratify, or accede to the treaty “at the earliest possible date”.

Meetings of states parties

Nicaragua participated in the first meeting of states parties to the TPNW in 2022. “The greatest desire of the inhabitants of Mother Earth is for nuclear weapons to disappear, which are a latent threat to all humanity, including the very peoples of the countries that manufacture and possess them,” it said.

Nicaragua also participated in the second meeting of states parties in 2023 and the third meeting in 2025.

TPNW negotiations

Nicaragua participated in the negotiation of the TPNW at the United Nations in New York in 2017 but was absent for the vote on its adoption.

In 2016, Nicaragua abstained from voting on the UN General Assembly resolution that established the formal mandate for states to commence negotiations on “a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination”.

Before the negotiations

Nicaragua was among 127 states that endorsed a “humanitarian pledge” in 2015–16 to cooperate “in efforts to stigmatise, prohibit, and eliminate nuclear weapons”. The pledge was instrumental in building momentum and support for convening the TPNW negotiations.

Further information

Nuclear Weapons Ban Monitor

Nicaragua

Nuclear-weapon-free state

Has joined the TPNW

Status

Signature and ratification

National position

Implementation

Meetings of states parties

TPNW negotiations

Before the negotiations

Further information

Local Partner Organizations

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