On March 17, 2023, at 11:00 a historic meeting took place between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Congo, H.E. Jean-Claude Gakosso, and the Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), Dr. Rob Floyd, in Vienna. The meeting aimed to strengthen the cooperation between the Republic of the Congo and the CTBTO on issues related to nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation, and verification.
H.E. Jean-Claude Gakosso is a prominent figure in Congolese politics and diplomacy. He has been serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs since 2015, succeeding Basile Ikouébé. He is also a member of the Mbochi tribe and a close ally of President Denis Sassou-Nguesso. He holds a degree in journalism from the Sorbonne University in France and has taught at the Marien Ngouabi University in Congo. He has also authored several books on topics such as media regulation.
Dr. Rob Floyd is an Australian scientist and diplomat who became the Executive Secretary of the CTBTO in 2021, following the retirement of Lassina Zerbo. He has a Ph.D. in population ecology from Griffith University and has worked as a senior official in various Australian government agencies, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Defence, and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation. He has also been involved in several international initiatives on nuclear security and verification, such as the International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification and the International Monitoring System.
The meeting between H.E. Gakosso and Dr. Floyd was an opportunity to discuss the status of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which bans all nuclear explosions for any purpose. The CTBT was opened for signature in 1996 and has been signed by 186 States and ratified by 177 States, including Congo. However, it has not yet entered into force, as eight States listed in Annex 2 of the Treaty have not ratified it: China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, and the United States.
H.E. Gakosso reaffirmed Congo’s commitment to the CTBT and its objectives of preventing nuclear proliferation and promoting nuclear disarmament. He also expressed his appreciation for the work of the CTBTO and its verification regime, which consists of a global network of over 300 monitoring stations and laboratories that can detect any nuclear explosion anywhere on Earth. He praised Dr. Floyd’s leadership and vision for enhancing the CTBTO’s capabilities and outreach.
Dr. Floyd thanked H.E. Gakosso for his support and cooperation and commended Congo for its active participation in the CTBTO’s activities and events. He also briefed him on the latest developments and challenges facing the CTBT and its verification regimes, such as the recent nuclear tests conducted by North Korea, the modernization of nuclear arsenals by some States, and the impact of climate change on monitoring technologies. He urged H.E. Gakosso to use his influence and voice to encourage other African States, especially Egypt, to ratify the CTBT and bring it closer to its entry into force.
The meeting between Minister Gakosso and Dr. Floyd was a significant step towards enhancing the cooperation and partnership between Congo and the CTBTO. It also an opportunity to reaffirm that the CTBT is more relevant than ever in ensuring a safer and more secure world for present and future generations.
