UNITED NATIONS, United States: The United States, Britain and France on Friday (Saturday in Manila) rejected a newly adopted global treaty banning nuclear weapons, saying it “clearly disregards the realities” of international security such as the threat from North Korea. In a joint statement, the three nuclear powers recalled that they had boycotted negotiations on the treaty and have no intention of joining it. The treaty outlawing nuclear weapons was adopted by 122 countries at the United Nations on Friday despite the boycott by the nuclear powers and their allies. None of the nine countries that possess nuclear weapons—the United States, Russia, Britain, China, France, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel—took part in the negotiations or the vote. The United States, France and Britain said they remain committed to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which seeks to prevent the spread of atomic weapons but also puts the onus on nuclear states to reduce their stockpiles.

Source: Manila Times July 08, 2017 15:33 UTC