Washington - The United States has successfully destroyed its remaining declared chemical weapons stockpile, marking a significant milestone in the elimination of these weapons. The destruction took place at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky, where rockets containing GB nerve agent were safely disposed of. This achievement closes a chapter of warfare dating back to World War I.

The elimination of the chemical weapons stockpile is not only a crucial moment for the cities of Richmond, Kentucky, and Pueblo, Colorado, where the weapons were stored and destroyed, but also a significant step for arms control efforts worldwide. The U.S. had a deadline of September 30 to eliminate its remaining chemical weapons under the international Chemical Weapons Convention, joined by 193 countries.

The munitions destroyed in Kentucky were the last of the M55 rockets containing GB nerve agent, also known as sarin, which had been stored at the depot since the 1940s. By destroying these weapons, the U.S. sends a clear message that such weapons are no longer acceptable on the battlefield and sets an example for countries that have not yet joined the Chemical Weapons Convention.

The disposal process involved neutralizing the deadly agents through a dilution process, ensuring safe disposal. The weapons were carefully handled by workers and processed using remote-controlled robots. Problematic munitions were destroyed in specialized chambers at high temperatures.

The elimination of the U.S. stockpile is seen as a significant achievement for the Chemical Weapons Convention, although challenges remain, particularly with countries like Russia and Syria suspected of possessing undeclared chemical weapons. President Joe Biden called on these countries to fully comply with the treaty, while urging the remaining countries to join.

The international chemical weapons watchdog, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, praised the U.S. for its success in multilateralism but emphasized the need to continue working on preventing the re-emergence of chemical weapons.

This milestone serves as an example for future efforts to eliminate weapons of mass destruction, demonstrating that with political will and a robust verification system, countries can ban such weapons effectively.