The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) is the cornerstone of international security, which helps to preserve Americans and the international community in a safe biological weapons. Along with the Geneva Protocol in 1925, these historical agreements made basic contributions to the progress of the issue of peace and security by prohibiting a full category of weapons of mass destruction and supporting an international base against the use of biological factors and toxins as weapons by anyone at any time. As mentioned in BWC, “This use will be hateful for the conscience of humanity.” The United States is proud of its registry as a global leader against the scourge of biological weapons.
It is never done in any circumstances to develop, produce, stock, obtain or preserve it: 1) Biological factors or toxins of species and quantities that do not justify peaceful uses; 2) Weapons, equipment, or delivery methods designed to use these agents or toxins for hostile purposes or in armed conflict (article I). To destroy or convert into peaceful purposes, all agents, toxins, weapons, equipment, and the means of delivery specified in the first article in possession of the parties of the states, or under their jurisdiction or control (second article). Not moving to any recipient at all, and not in any way to help, encourage or motivate any country or group of countries or international organizations to manufacture or obtain any of the agents, toxins, weapons, equipment or delivery methods specified in Article 1 (Article Three). To take any necessary measures to prohibit and prevent development, production, storage, acquisition, or retain any agents, toxins, weapons, equipment, and the means of delivery specified in the first article under its competence or control (Article IV).
Abandoning biological weapons: The United States abandoned unilateral biological weapons in 1969. On November 25, 1969, President Nixon announced The United States will eliminate the program of biological weapons and toxins, noting that “humanity has already carries in its hands a lot of its destruction seeds.” Then the United States began completely destroying its warehouse of biological factors and turning production facilities into peaceful purposes. The United States played a leadership role in negotiating BWC, which opened to sign on April 10, 1972.
Eliminate biological weapons from the world: The United States is a BWC deposit state and strives to follow up on BWC education. Since BWC entered into force on March 26, 1975, its membership has grown to nearly 190 countries. BWC's membership continues to expand today, with 5 new countries joining since 2020. However, the United States is still concerned that some countries, including some BWC parties, as well as non -state actors, have continued to follow up on biological weapons and that the United States is seeking to address this threat.
