Abstract
Nuclear weapons remain among the most consequential security challenges facing the international community.
Although the number of nuclear-armed states is limited, the consequences of any nuclear detonation—whether intentional, accidental, or resulting from miscalculation—would extend beyond national borders and could produce humanitarian, environmental, economic, and political consequences for generations. The international community has therefore developed a complex system of treaties, institutions, norms, and diplomatic mechanisms aimed at preventing nuclear proliferation, reducing nuclear risks, and ultimately achieving nuclear disarmament.
This article examines the continuing need for nuclear-armed states to fulfill their disarmament obligations and considers the role that the Republic of Liberia can play through diplomacy, multilateralism, African solidarity, international law, and peace and security advocacy. The article argues that Liberia’s contribution does not depend upon possessing military or nuclear capabilities.
As a non-nuclear state and a member of the international community committed to multilateral diplomacy, Liberia can exercise influence through international institutions, particularly the United Nations, African Union, Economic Community of West African States, and other disarmament forums.
The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of nuclear weapons (NPT) occupies a central position in this discussion. Article VI requires parties to pursue negotiations in good faith concerning effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race, nuclear disarmament, and general and complete disarmament under effective international control.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), in its 1996 Advisory Opinion on the legality of the threat or use of nuclear weapons, concluded unanimously that an obligation exists to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiation leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control.
Liberia has a significant historical and diplomatic foundation from which to advocate for nuclear disarmament. Liberia ratified the NPT in 1970, ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 2009, and has entered into IAEA safeguards arrangements.
Liberia has also participated in international diplomacy supporting nuclear disarmament. At the same time, Liberia has signed but not ratified the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Pelindaba Treaty) and has not yet joined the Treaty on the Prohibition of nuclear weapons (TPNW).
The article proposes a strengthened Liberian diplomatic strategy based on five principles: peace, international law, African solidarity, multilateral diplomacy, and responsible disarmament. It concludes that Liberia can make a constructive contribution by consistently urging nuclear-armed states to comply with their existing obligations while simultaneously strengthening Liberia’s own participation in African and global nuclear-disarmament instruments.
Keywords: Liberia, nuclear disarmament, nuclear weapons, NPT, CTBT, TPNW, Pelindaba Treaty, diplomacy, international security, peace and security, United Nations, Africa.
Introduction
The question of nuclear weapons is one of the most important issues in international peace and security. Since the first nuclear weapons were developed and used during the Second World War, the international community has struggled with a fundamental contradiction: nuclear weapons are regarded by some states as instruments of national security and deterrence, while their potential humanitarian consequences have generated sustained international efforts toward their prohibition and elimination.
The nuclear age fundamentally changed the nature of international security. Conventional military conflicts can cause devastating destruction, but nuclear weapons introduce the possibility of destruction on a vastly different scale. Their effects can extend across national boundaries through blast, heat, radiation, environmental contamination, displacement, and long-term consequences for public health and economic development.
For Liberia, a country with a historical commitment to international cooperation and a long diplomatic relationship with the United Nations and African institutions, nuclear disarmament should not be viewed as an issue belonging exclusively to the major powers.
It is an issue of international peace and security.
Liberia does not possess nuclear weapons. Consequently, its diplomatic responsibility is fundamentally different from that of nuclear-armed states. Liberia’s role is not to determine the military strategy of nuclear powers but to participate in the international diplomatic process through which states negotiate arms-control, non-proliferation, risk-reduction, and disarmament measures.
The central argument of this article is that nuclear-armed states have continuing responsibilities under international law and international agreements to pursue nuclear disarmament. At the same time, non-nuclear states such as Liberia have an important diplomatic responsibility to support the rules-based international system that seeks to prevent proliferation and advance disarmament.
The NPT is particularly important. The United Nations describes it as the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime and notes that it contains legally binding commitments relating to nuclear disarmament.
Article VI is therefore central to the discussion.
It provides that parties undertake to pursue negotiations in good faith concerning effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date, nuclear disarmament, and a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control.
The ICJ gave this obligation particular legal significance in its 1996 Advisory Opinion. The Court stated that the Article VI obligation goes beyond merely discussing the subject: it involves pursuing negotiations in good faith with the objective of achieving nuclear disarmament.
This creates an important diplomatic question:
What should countries such as Liberia do when progress toward nuclear disarmament is slow?
The answer should not be confrontation for its own sake. Liberia can instead pursue principled diplomacy based on international law, African regional commitments, multilateralism, dialogue, confidence-building, verification, and peaceful cooperation.
Liberia’s Historical Contribution to Nuclear Disarmament:
Liberia’s nuclear diplomacy has a long history. Liberia ratified the NPT in 1970. United Nations Treaty Collection: Liberia also signed the CTBT on October 1, 1996, shortly after it opened for signature, and ratified it on August 17, 2009. The CTBT is significant because nuclear testing has historically contributed to the development and refinement of nuclear weapons.
The treaty seeks to prohibit nuclear explosions and establish an international verification system. As of the latest CTBTO status information, Liberia remains among the African states that have ratified the CTBT.
Liberia also has an IAEA safeguards agreement connected to the NPT, which entered into force in December 2018.
These commitments demonstrate that Liberia already has a foundation for participation in the global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament system.
Liberia and the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone: Africa has taken a historic regional position against nuclear weapons through the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty, commonly called the Pelindaba Treaty.
The treaty was opened for signature in 1996 and entered into force in 2009.
The treaty establishes Africa as a nuclear-weapon-free zone and prohibits parties from conducting research, developing, manufacturing, acquiring, possessing, or controlling nuclear explosive devices. It also addresses testing, stationing, and related activities.
Liberia signed the Pelindaba Treaty in 1996 but has not completed ratification according to available treaty-status records. The African Union’s treaty record identifies Liberia as having signed without a recorded ratification/deposit, and other treaty-status sources likewise identify Liberia as a signatory that has not ratified.
This is a significant issue for Liberian diplomacy.
Liberia’s ratification of Pelindaba would strengthen consistency between: Liberia’s NPT commitments; Liberia’s CTBT commitment; Liberia’s African regional responsibilities; and
Liberia’s broader diplomatic advocacy for nuclear disarmament.
Why Africa Has a Special Interest in Nuclear Disarmament: Africa has historically suffered from wars, colonialism, political instability, resource conflicts, terrorism, trafficking, and humanitarian emergencies. The continent therefore has a strong interest in preventing another category of weapons from becoming part of its security environment.
The Pelindaba Treaty reflects an African decision that the continent should remain free from nuclear weapons. This is strategically important. A nuclear-free Africa reduces the possibility that African territory could become: a nuclear weapons deployment area; a nuclear testing ground; a nuclear weapons production center; a nuclear weapons storage location; or a battlefield in a nuclear conflict between external powers.
African nuclear disarmament therefore contributes to regional peace and security.
Liberia’s Diplomatic Opportunity: Liberia’s diplomatic influence does not depend on military power. It can derive from principled diplomacy.
Liberia has historically participated in international organizations and can use diplomatic platforms to promote: international law; peaceful settlement of disputes; multilateralism; disarmament; human security; African unity; conflict prevention; and international cooperation.
The UN General Assembly and its First Committee, the UN Disarmament Commission, the NPT review process, the IAEA, the CTBTO, and African Union mechanisms all provide opportunities.
Liberia can particularly emphasize the interests of smaller states.
A nuclear crisis involving major powers would not remain confined to those powers.
Global economic markets, international transportation, food security, migration, environmental systems, and international peacekeeping could all be affected.
Therefore, nuclear disarmament is not only a concern for nuclear-armed countries.
It is a concern for the international community as a whole.
Understanding Nuclear Disarmament: Nuclear disarmament refers broadly to the reduction and eventual elimination of nuclear weapons and the military capabilities associated with them.
It should be distinguished from nuclear non-proliferation.
Nuclear non-proliferation: Non-proliferation seeks to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons to additional states or actors.
Nuclear arms control: Arms control involves negotiated limitations on nuclear weapons, delivery systems, deployments, testing, or related military capabilities.
Nuclear risk reduction: Risk reduction seeks to lower the probability of accidental, unauthorized, or unintended nuclear use.
Nuclear disarmament: Disarmament goes further by seeking reductions and ultimately elimination of nuclear arsenals.
These concepts are connected but are not identical.
A successful global nuclear-security system requires attention to all four.
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty: The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of nuclear weapons was opened for signature in 1968 and entered into force in 1970. Liberia ratified the NPT in 1970.
The NPT establishes three interconnected objectives: Prevent the spread of nuclear weapons; Promote peaceful uses of nuclear energy; and Advance nuclear disarmament.
The treaty therefore represents a bargain between different categories of states.
Non-nuclear-weapon states undertake not to acquire nuclear weapons, while the treaty recognizes their right to peaceful nuclear technology subject to the treaty’s requirements. Nuclear-weapon states have corresponding obligations concerning disarmament.
This balance is important. If non-nuclear states are continuously asked to accept restrictions while nuclear-armed states make insufficient progress toward disarmament, confidence in the international non-proliferation regime may be weakened.
Liberia’s diplomatic statements have recognized this concern.
In a 2025 statement before the UN Disarmament Commission, Liberia expressed concern about the slow pace of nuclear disarmament and emphasized that this can affect the credibility of the NPT and international security. Liberia also reaffirmed the importance of multilateralism and urged states possessing nuclear capabilities to adhere to their treaty obligations.
This position provides an important foundation for a more consistent Liberian diplomatic strategy. Article VI of the NPT and the Disarmament Obligation: Article VI is perhaps the most important legal provision for discussions concerning nuclear-armed states’ disarmament obligations.
The provision requires all parties to pursue negotiations in good faith concerning: ending the nuclear arms race; nuclear disarmament; and general and complete disarmament under effective international control.
The language is important because it does not simply establish an aspiration.
It creates a treaty commitment to pursue negotiations in good faith.
The ICJ addressed this issue directly in 1996.
The Court unanimously concluded that there is an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control.
The Court further explained that Article VI involved more than an obligation merely to negotiate. It characterized the obligation as involving pursuit of a particular result—nuclear disarmament—through good-faith negotiations.
This has major implications for international diplomacy.
Nuclear disarmament cannot simply remain a permanent subject of discussion without meaningful efforts toward implementation.
At the same time, the legal obligation does not prescribe one single timetable or one specific disarmament mechanism. Therefore, diplomacy remains essential.
The International Court of Justice and Nuclear Weapons
The 1996 ICJ Advisory Opinion remains one of the most important international legal documents concerning nuclear weapons.
The Court examined whether the threat or use of nuclear weapons was permitted under international law.
The Court concluded, among other things, that: there is no specific authorization in international law for the threat or use of nuclear weapons; threats or uses contrary to the UN Charter’s rules on force are unlawful; nuclear use must comply with international humanitarian law; nuclear weapons raise serious questions under the laws governing armed conflict; and there is an obligation to pursue and conclude negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament.
The Court did not issue a blanket conclusion resolving every possible circumstance concerning nuclear use. It identified an exceptional unresolved question involving an extreme circumstance of self-defense in which the very survival of a state might be at stake.
This distinction is important for serious academic analysis.
The legal position should not be simplified into the claim that the ICJ declared every possible nuclear threat or use automatically unlawful under every conceivable circumstance.
Instead, the judgment established several important principles while emphasizing the legal difficulties surrounding nuclear weapons.
For Liberia, the significance is that international diplomacy can be grounded not merely in moral appeals but also in international law. The Humanitarian Dimension of Nuclear Weapons
Nuclear disarmament is not simply a strategic or military issue.
It is also a humanitarian issue. A nuclear explosion in a populated area could cause: mass casualties; severe burns and trauma; radiation exposure; destruction of medical facilities; displacement of populations; disruption of food and water systems; environmental contamination; economic collapse in affected areas; and long-term effects on future generations. The humanitarian argument has become particularly influential in the development of modern nuclear-disarmament diplomacy.
The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was adopted in 2017 following years of international advocacy focused heavily on the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons.
The treaty prohibits its parties from developing, testing, producing, acquiring, possessing, stockpiling, using, or threatening to use nuclear weapons, as well as assisting prohibited activities. It entered into force on January 22, 2021. As of September 2026, the UN Treaty Collection lists 75 parties and 96 signatories.
Liberia voted for adoption of the TPNW in 2017 but, according to current treaty-status information, has not yet signed or ratified it.
This creates an important area for Liberian diplomatic consideration.
Conclusion
The issue of nuclear disarmament is not simply a matter for the world’s most powerful countries. It is a matter for the entire international community.
Nuclear weapons have consequences that transcend borders.
The international community has therefore created a legal and diplomatic framework designed to prevent proliferation, prohibit nuclear testing, promote peaceful nuclear cooperation, reduce nuclear risks, and ultimately achieve nuclear disarmament.
The NPT remains central to this framework. Liberia ratified the NPT in 1970 and has therefore participated in the treaty regime for more than five decades.
Article VI is particularly significant because it establishes an obligation to pursue negotiations in good faith concerning nuclear disarmament. The ICJ reinforced the importance of this obligation in its 1996 Advisory Opinion, unanimously recognizing an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control.
Liberia has already demonstrated a record of involvement in nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament diplomacy. It ratified the CTBT in 2009, maintains an IAEA safeguards framework, and has repeatedly expressed support for multilateral nuclear disarmament.
Nevertheless, Liberia has opportunities to strengthen its position.
In particular, available treaty records show that Liberia signed the Pelindaba Treaty in 1996 but has not completed ratification, while current treaty-status information indicates that Liberia has not yet joined the TPNW.
These issues deserve national policy consideration.
Liberia should continue to use diplomacy—not confrontation—as its principal instrument.
Liberia can call for: compliance with Article VI of the NPT; good-faith negotiations;
reduction of nuclear risks; transparency; verification;
nuclear-arms reductions; universal adherence to the CTBT; stronger African implementation of the Pelindaba framework; peaceful nuclear cooperation; strengthened IAEA safeguards; and eventual elimination of nuclear weapons.
Liberia’s greatest contribution may not be military power. It may be the country’s ability to speak from the experience of a nation that has endured devastating conflict and understands the value of prevention, peacebuilding, reconciliation, and international cooperation.
The central message should therefore be straightforward:
The security of one nation cannot permanently depend upon the insecurity of humanity as a whole.
Nuclear-armed states have legitimate security concerns, but the international legal system has also established a long-term objective of nuclear disarmament. The challenge for the international community is to reconcile immediate security concerns with that long-term obligation.
Liberia can contribute to this process through principled diplomacy, African solidarity, international law, peace education, scientific cooperation, and multilateral engagement.
The country should continue to promote a world in which nuclear technology serves peaceful development rather than destruction, in which international disputes are addressed through diplomacy rather than threats, and in which nuclear disarmament becomes a practical process supported by law, verification, trust, and political will.
For Liberia, therefore, nuclear disarmament is not merely a foreign-policy issue. It is part of the broader struggle for international peace, human security, African security, sustainable development, and the protection of future generations.
About the Author
Apostle Dr. Tarpeh Lasanah U-sayee Jr. is a Liberian law-enforcement professional, criminal justice scholar, university professor, security and executive-protection trainer, researcher, minister of the Gospel, and international relations practitioner. His professional career brings together law enforcement, criminal justice education, security administration, leadership, theology, and public service. Publicly available profiles also identify him as a trainer with Liberia’s law-enforcement institutions and a Criminal Justice professor.
Academic Background
Dr. U-sayee has a multidisciplinary academic background, including:
Doctoral Degree in Church Growth and Ministry — T-Net International/Teleo University, USA, conferred January 17, 2026.
Master of Divinity (MDiv).
Master of Foreign Service Leadership in International Relations.
Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice.
Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology.
Associate Degree in Management.
His educational background combines criminal justice, sociology, international relations, management, theology, and church growth, giving him an interdisciplinary foundation for his work in education, security, governance, and ministry.
Law Enforcement and Security Career
Dr. U-sayee has received professional law-enforcement and security training from:
Liberia Police Academy
Louisiana State Police Academy, United States
Lagos State Police Academy, Nigeria
He has served in Liberia’s security sector and has been identified publicly as an Executive Protection Service (EPS) Training Commandant/trainer and a trainer at the Liberia National Police Training Academy. His areas of professional interest include criminal investigation, criminal procedure, police administration, executive protection, security management, intelligence, public safety, and law-enforcement professional development.
References
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United Nations. Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. United Nations Treaty Collection.
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United Nations. Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. United Nations Treaty Collection.
United Nations General Assembly. Final Text of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba). A/RES/50/78, 1995.
