The IPU warmly congratulates the Kingdom of Tonga on its accession to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), both formalized on 7 July 2026 at the United Nations in New York.
With this ratification, approved by its Parliament, Tonga becomes the 179th state to join the CTBT, completing the Treaty’s universalization across the entire Pacific region, which knows all too well the human and environmental cost of nuclear testing. Meanwhile, through its accession to the TPNW, Tonga becomes the 75th State Party to that Treaty, adding further weight to the global norm against nuclear weapons. A further 25 States have signed the treaty, meaning that 100 States have now taken action to join the only international legal framework aiming to comprehensively ban nuclear weapons.
These steps build on Tonga’s accession to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention in 2025, a process the IPU was proud to be involved with as part of its raising-awareness activities on international humanitarian law (IHL) treaties among its Member Parliaments. In times of growing hostilities, polarization and erosion of respect for IHL, the IPU welcomes Tonga’s leadership in joining these global disarmament frameworks as it reflects a consistent and deliberate commitment to multilateralism and upholding the international rule of law.
Tonga’s actions also showcase how the Pacific region has emerged as a global leader in advocating for humanitarian disarmament, including nuclear disarmament. This example particularly demonstrates how the leadership of the small island developing States in this area has shown us the way for a world free of these deadly weapons. Universal adherence to humanitarian disarmament treaties remains essential to a more secure world, and the IPU stands ready to continue supporting national parliaments to work towards that goal.
Find out more about the IPU's work on disarmament and non-proliferation
