Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction a Problem of Extra-Territoriality

The spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), i.e., of atomic, biological and chemical weapons (ABC weapons) is perceived as an important security and stability problem. The proliferation of WMD is intrinsically a question of extra-territorial effects and extra-territorial measures to address these effects for the following reasons: the security of state A is threatened by activities which happen in state B. The Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), and the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) provide the legal bases or framework for the measures. The non-proliferation duties of the Treaty are the nuclear-weapons states (NWS) may not transfer any nuclear weapons, nuclear explosive devices or the control over such weapons or devices to any recipient whatsoever. The notion of extra-territorial effects relates to "territory". It thus refers to one of the elements of statehood. Keywords:Biological Weapons Convention (BWC); Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC); extra-territoriality; Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT); nuclear-weapons states (NWS); weapons of mass destruction (WMD)