This paper aims at summarizing the situation regarding withdrawal clauses included in arms control treaties and, as a result, stimulate the negotiations towards a treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons. It does not take a stance on whether it is appropriate to include or not a withdrawal clause in such a treaty. SLND might come up with a position paper at a later stage.
In part (A), an overview of withdrawal clauses in “traditional” arms control treaties will be given. In part (B), examples of modified withdrawal clauses adapted to the “humanitarian” nature of certain treaties will be discussed. Part (C) will address and compare advantages and drawbacks of withdrawal clause and part (D) will suggest certain aspects that we consider particularly important for the negotiations in view of a new treaty banning nuclear weapons.
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