Description
As the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) approaches its first review conference in 2026, universalisation remains a key action point for advancing nuclear disarmament. While scholars and policymakers have extensively engaged with the concerns of non-member states, the literature has paid less attention to the perspectives of nuclear umbrella states that attended TPNW meetings as observer states. In the context of the third nuclear age, characterised by increasing global security instabilities and a surge in discourses supporting the strategic utility of nuclear weapons, it is crucial to evaluate the nuclear discursive landscape and identify opportunities to improve disarmament efforts. This article offers a timely analysis of the claims made by these observer states and provides policy recommendations for enhancing universalisation efforts. Our analysis focusses on the normative pillar of universalisation, which emphasises fostering greater acceptance of the underlying rationale for the total elimination of nuclear weapons, grounded in humanitarian imperatives. To develop this analysis, we will map the discourses of the last three meetings of state parties, identifying the key issues and solutions proposed by these states. We will then assess how these claims impact on the continuity or disruption of knowledge structures that sustain the nuclear status quo, such as nuclear deterrence assumptions, and evaluate how the TPNW has addressed these challenges. The article concludes with policy recommendations for improving universalisation efforts.
