Pentagon: We Plan to Eliminate Chemical Weapons by 2023

The U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) announced that the United States intends to complete the disposal of its chemical weapons by 2023. Brandy Van, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Chemical and Biological Defense Programs, stated during a seminar held by a non-governmental organization specializing in arms oversight on Thursday: "Regarding the specific commitments under legislation, we need to take into account the final deadline, which is December 31, 2023." She added: "Congress has mandated us to complete destruction by this deadline, but in reality, we are working to complete the process by September 2023, as stipulated by the Chemical Weapons Convention." She emphasized that "it is essential for our national security to adhere to the deadlines," noting that the United States "continues to make progress" in eliminating its stockpile of chemical weapons and aims to complete it "as quickly as possible" and "in the safest manner." She mentioned that the United States has destroyed 97% of its chemical weapons stockpile so far. It is worth noting that the Chemical Weapons Convention came into force in 1997 and mandates the destruction of all chemical weapons stockpiles within ten years, but the United States has postponed the completion of its stockpile destruction several times.