Marcos urges Tonga, Bhutan, Nepal to join CTBT

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. committed to urging Tonga, Bhutan, and Nepal to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) during a meeting with Robert Floyd of the CTBTO at Malacañang Palace on Tuesday.

Floyd requested Marcos' help in persuading these countries to join the treaty, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1996 and has been signed by 187 nations, 178 of which have ratified it.

The CTBT bans all nuclear explosions for military or peaceful purposes and requires ratification from 44 specific nuclear technology holder countries before it can enter into force; nine of these countries still need to ratify the treaty, including China, DPRK, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Pakistan, Russia, and the US.

Floyd noted that Tonga is the last South Pacific nation yet to sign and ratify the treaty, while Nepal faces challenges in completing its parliamentary ratification process due to leadership changes.

The Philippines views the CTBT as crucial for building confidence among states and addressing security issues globally and has been a vocal advocate for the treaty's implementation.