The United States is commemorating the 50th anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction. The milestone marks a historic step toward eliminating biological weapons, a fundamental cornerstone of global peace and security.
The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), also known as the Geneva Protocol, was negotiated in 1972 and came into effect on March 26, 1975. This international treaty has been a cornerstone of global efforts to prevent the use of biological weapons by completely banning an entire class of weapons of mass destruction. The BWC’s negotiation built on earlier efforts, including the 1925 Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare.
The United States has remained firmly committed to the BWC since its inception. In 1969, the country unilaterally renounced biological weapons, long before the treaty was negotiated. Over the past 50 years, the US has continued to be a steadfast leader in supporting the BWC and working with all responsible nations to address the threat of biological weapons.
As the world marks this significant anniversary, the United States pledges to remain at the forefront of global efforts to eliminate biological weapons from the world once and for all. The country calls on all States Parties to reaffirm their commitment to the Convention and redouble their national, bilateral, and multilateral efforts to prohibit and prevent the development, acquisition, and use of biological weapons.
The collective security of the international community demands no less. The United States and its allies will continue to work together to address this critical threat and promote a world free from the scourge of biological weapons.