The US has achieved an extraordinary milestone by officially eliminating its entire stockpile of chemical weapons, totalling 30,000 tons of deadly agents once ready for use around the world. On July 7, 2023, the last M55 rocket containing nerve agent Sarin was safely punctured, drained, and incinerated, putting an end to humanity’s use of chemical weapons.
This momentous event marks the first time in history that an international body has verified the destruction of a complete category of declared weapons of mass destruction. The achievement reinforces the United States’ unwavering commitment to creating a world free of chemical weapons, emphasized Under Secretary of Defence for Acquisition and Sustainment, William A. LaPlante.
THE INITIATIVE
The initiative to eliminate chemical weapons dates back over thirty years when US president George Bush and Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev jointly agreed to cease production and destroy their respective stockpiles. This commitment aligned with the Geneva Protocol, a treaty established almost a century ago to ban the use of chemical and biological weapons in conflict, triggered by the horrific experiences of the First World War.
Chemical weapons, such as chlorine gas, mustard gas, and phosgene, inflicted unimaginable suffering on those caught in their path. Over the years, lethal nerve agents like VX and Sarin were developed, raising concerns about their potential use in warfare.
In 1990, the U.S. Army embarked on a mission mandated by Congress in 1986 to destroy the massive chemical weapons stockpile, which at its peak, comprised more than 30,000 tons of lethal chemical warfare agents stored in explosive configurations and bulk containers on Johnston Atoll in the Pacific. The Army successfully completed the destruction of these weapons at seven different sites across the continental U.S., with installations in Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Maryland, Oregon, and Utah, concluding in 2012.
During the process of dismantling the stockpiles, additional legislation required the Defence Department to explore and demonstrate alternative technologies for chemical weapons destruction, beyond incineration. The successful implementation of these innovative technologies resulted in the safe destruction of the remaining chemical weapons stored at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot in Colorado and at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky.
At the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot, a team of companies in Colorado, led by Bechtel National, Inc., accomplished the destruction of over 780,000 mustard agent-filled projectiles on June 22. The process began in March 2015 and involved using a combination of neutralization, bio treatment, and explosive destruction technologies to safely dispose of more than 2,613 U.S. tons of chemical agents.
In Kentucky, the joint-venture team led by Bechtel National, Inc., and Parsons Corporation, carried out the destruction of over 100,000 mustard agent and nerve agent-filled projectiles, as well as nerve agent-filled rockets. The final munitions were destroyed on July 7, successfully completing the mission at the Blue Grass Army Depot. The destruction operations commenced in June 2019 and resulted in the safe elimination of over 523 U.S. tons of chemical agents, using neutralization and explosive destruction technologies.
CONTENTIOUS ISSUE
While the US never claimed to have intentionally used such agents covered under the Chemical Weapons Convention to harm humans, the existence of these weapons remained a contentious issue amid geopolitical tensions.
The process of dismantling an aging stockpile of chemical weapons presented formidable challenges, both politically and practically. However, advanced technology played a crucial role, utilizing robots to handle dangerous materials, bacteria to break down harmful compounds, and furnaces to reduce contaminated metal to non-hazardous ash.
Although the destruction process has concluded, ongoing clean-up efforts at facilities will continue for years to ensure safety for the workforce, the public, and the environment.
The US now joins other countries that have successfully disposed of their chemical weapons, including the UK in 2007, India in 2009, and Russia in 2017. While these official declarations are reasons for celebration, it remains essential to maintain vigilance in international disarmament efforts and strive for a world free of chemical weapons.
As the nature of warfare evolves, chemical weapons may become less effective or relevant. Nonetheless, the elimination of these deadly agents is a monumental step towards a safer, more peaceful world, reflecting both moral and strategic intentions. This achievement sets a significant precedent in international disarmament and calls for global unity in safeguarding humanity from the horrors of chemical warfare.
