THE CEND INITIATIVE: A VEILED US AGENDA FOR NUCLEAR HEGEMONY?

Abstract

During the 10^th Review Conference on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the US proposed an initiative called Creating an Environment for Nuclear Disarmament (CEND). This article explores and investigates the true intentions of the great power behind that initiative. The analysis is based solely on the 2010 and 2018 US Nuclear Posture Reviews (NPR) and the 2022 Nuclear Defense Strategy. These documents depict a huge contradiction between the US's stated non-proliferation and disarmament policies and its actions. Critics say that the US disarmament goals, modernization of its nuclear weapons, and withdrawal from key arms control treaties go equally/parallel. It also doubted the genuine agenda of the CEND initiative. The study follows qualitative research methodology and has used primary and secondary data sources such as government records, disarmament meeting records, and academic literature to evaluate the broader implications of CEND. The study reveals that, unquestionably, the framework of the CEND Initiative is framed as a disarmament effort, but it may largely serve the geopolitical interests of the US through ensuring its nuclear hegemony. This raises concerns among the nuclear-weapon states and non-nuclear-weapon states about the true impact of the initiative on global arms reduction efforts.