Biden Announces Timeline for Destruction of US Chemical Weapons Stockpiles

The United States administration is prepared to fully complete its chemical weapons elimination process by this fall. This was stated in a written declaration by US President Joe Biden released on Friday, ahead of the fifth conference of states participating in the review of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which will take place in The Hague from May 15-19.

“By working together towards our common goal, the United States sets an example. We are on track to complete the elimination of our chemical weapons stockpiles by this fall, an essential phase of disarmament that meets the highest standards of transparency and public safety,” said the state leader.

The US is the only country in the world that possesses chemical weapons. Moscow has repeatedly urged Washington to fulfill its obligations under the convention.

At the same time, the American leader emphasized the necessity of meeting these obligations, although the US has frequently postponed the completion of the chemical weapons elimination process. “Chemical weapons have brought unimaginable horrors to our world, and they must never be developed or used again. This is the obligation of the international community, established with the creation of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in 1997 according to the convention, and it is a commitment we must reaffirm every day as long as our world remains threatened by chemical weapons,” the President stated.