15/02/2023
The Ninth Review Conference of the Convention for the Prohibition of Biological and Toxin Weapons (CABT): the ball keeps rolling.- Mar Hidalgo
On December 16, 2022, the final document of the Ninth Review Conference of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (CABT) was approved by consensus. After three weeks of intense discussions, what seemed unattainable was achieved: reaching an agreement, even minimal, on the steps to follow to improve the application of the Convention in the future.
The health, economic and social damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s accusations about the presence of US-funded laboratories in Ukraine where biological weapons programs are allegedly being developed conditioned diplomatic efforts to reach final agreement.
Taking into account that the context of the war in Ukraine and the rivalry between the US and China make it difficult to reach consensus at the international level, the approval of the final document of the ninth review, although it is not concrete enough, allows the ball to continue rolling within the CABT.
Document prepared by mar hidalgo. IEEE Principal Analyst. @ieee_mhidalgo