Non-Aligned Movement and nuclear disarmament in the XXI century

Abstract

The subject of this paper is to investigate the policy and role of the Non- Aligned Movement (NAM) on nuclear disarmament in the 21st century. Nuclear disarmament continues to be the highest priority of the NAM, which is why it deserves a special place in the analysis of the activities of the NAM in modern international relations. However, this policy and role have been shaped in the new century as well by the adoption and expression of principled views on the necessity of nuclear disarmament, with very few results achieved, sometimes even among its own membership. Through the analysis of the content and comparison of NAM documents adopted at the NAM summits or within multilateral forums dealing with disarmament and international security issues, as well as secondary sources dealing with this topic, the author concludes that the role of non-aligned in nuclear disarmament is primarily to keep this issue high on the international agenda and as a kind of counterbalance to the demands of the nuclear powers for the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. However, this role is weakened for at least six reasons: the importance that individual NAM member states attach to nuclear weapons; their refusal to accede to or fully implement universal and regional instruments of nuclear disarmament; the (mis) use of the NAM as a means of pursuing individual member states' interests for the promotion of issues that lack significant support from other member states of the Movement; the absence of any NAM measure to condemn or sanction such behaviour within the Movement, while they are constantly repeated towards other countries such as Israel and the United States; inconsistent "call out" of individual NWS for disrespect of the principles and measures for disarmament and lack of the adequate mechanisms; and the intention of the NAM to participate more actively in resolving existing crises regarding disarmament and nonproliferation.