"Chemical weapons have wrought unthinkable horrors upon our world, and should never again be developed or deployed—period. That’s the commitment the world made when the Chemical Weapons Convention created the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in 1997—and it’s a commitment we must renew every day until our world is free from the threat of chemical weapons," Biden said.

Highlighting the upcoming conference, Biden noted that the United States and its partner States Parties will gather to review their progress and determine further actions necessary to rid the world of chemical weapons. He emphasized the importance of renewing the commitment to this cause daily until global security is free from the threat of chemical weapons.

“As we work together toward our shared goal, the United States is leading by example. We are on track to complete the destruction of our chemical weapons stockpile by this fall—a disarmament milestone that upholds the highest standards of transparency and public safety. We are steadfast in our support for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons’ new Center for Chemistry and Technology, which will help the Organization better carry out its verification, inspection, and attribution responsibilities, and build the capacities of others to counter chemical weapons. And, together with our partners, we will continue to strengthen the Organization’s ability to address nontraditional chemical threats that have emerged in recent decades to ensure it can face the challenges of today,” Biden said.

The President called for collective efforts to encourage more nations to join the Chemical Weapons Convention, urging accountability for treaty violations, including the use of chemical weapons by Syria and Russia. He emphasized that the United States will continue to stand with the OPCW in preventing the stockpiling, production, and use of chemical weapons worldwide, leaving no room for impunity.

"We must not stop until all children can grow up in a world without the scourge of chemical weapons," Biden concluded. (ILKHA)