Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Biological Weapons Convention
The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) is a cornerstone of international security, helping to keep Americans and the international community safe from biological weapons. Together with the 1925 Geneva Protocol, these historic agreements have made essential contributions to advancing the cause of peace and security by prohibiting an entire category of weapons of mass destruction and supporting an international norm against the use of biological agents and toxins as weapons by anyone at any time. As stated in the preamble of the BWC, “such use would be repugnant to the conscience of mankind.” The United States is proud of its record as a world leader against the scourge of biological weapons.
- Never in any circumstances to develop, produce, stockpile, or otherwise acquire or retain: 1) biological agents or toxins of types and in quantities that have no justification for peaceful uses; and 2) weapons, equipment, or means of delivery designed to use such agents or toxins for hostile purposes or in armed conflict (Article I).
- To destroy or divert to peaceful purposes all agents, toxins, weapons, equipment, and means of delivery specified in Article I in possession of States Parties, or under their jurisdiction or control (Article II).
- Not to transfer to any recipient whatsoever, and not in any way to assist, encourage, or induce any State, group of States or international organizations to manufacture or otherwise acquire any of the agents, toxins, weapons, equipment or means of delivery specified in Article I (Article III).
- To take any necessary measures to prohibit and prevent the development, production, stockpiling, acquisition, or retention of any of the agents, toxins, weapons, equipment, and means of delivery specified in Article I under its jurisdiction or control (Article IV).
Renouncing biological weapons: The United States unilaterally renounced biological weapons in 1969. On November 25, 1969, President Nixon announced that the United States would eliminate its biological and toxin weapons program, noting that “mankind already carries in its hands too many of the seeds of its own destruction.” The United States then began complete destruction of its stockpile of biological agents and converting its production facilities to peaceful purposes. The United States played a leadership role in the negotiation of the BWC, which was opened for signature on April 10, 1972.
Eliminating biological weapons from the world: The United States is a BWC depositary State and strives to pursue universalization of the BWC. Since the BWC entered into force on March 26, 1975, its membership has grown to nearly 190 countries. BWC membership continues to expand today, with 5 new countries joining since 2020. Even so, the United States remains concerned that some countries, including some BWC States Parties, as well as non-state actors, have continued to pursue biological weapons and the United States seeks to address this threat.
