Strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime: achieving nuclearfreezone in the Middle East

Abstract

Introduction. The article is devoted to the problem of building a dialogue between nuclear and non-nuclear states of the Middle East with the aim to reach an agreement on a nuclear-free zone in the region as a measure to preserve the nuclear non-proliferation regime. The research purpose is to identify ways of creating a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East in the context of the geopolitical realities of the region. The research relevance is due to the fact, that the adoption of the Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in 2017, which implies a fundamental change in the position of actors in the nuclear field, gave rise to the need to determine prospects for the nuclear non-proliferation regime. The research revealed that in order to preserve the regime, it is necessary to adapt it to the modern realities of international relations, meaning a more active role than in the bipolar era of non-nuclear states and a solution to the ongoing problem of states actually possessing nuclear weapons, including Israel in the Middle East.

Materials and methods. The research used structural-functional method (to identify the role of the Middle East nuclear settlement problem in political processes in the framework of the nuclear non-proliferation regime transformation), and case-study method (to study the specifics of creating a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, in the context of geopolitical contradictions between nuclear powers in the region). The results of the research are the identified ways to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime through the creation of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, which implies solution to the issue of providing guarantees to states, actually possessing nuclear weapons. The work found that Russia, as a leading nuclear power, will be able to initiate and implement these measures. Discussion. The nuclear non-proliferation regime can be strengthened through establishing a political process towards reaching agreement between nuclear and non-nuclear powers at regional level when adopting an action plan to create a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, which will serve as the basis for building a similar dialogue for adopting other measures towards nuclear non-proliferation regime at universal level.