The Special Relationship at stake: The negotiation of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (1966-1972)

The Special Relationship at stake: The negotiation of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (1966-1972) On the eve of its Eight Review Conference, the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) still represents the cornerstone of the regime preventing the production and possession of biological weapons (BW). Since the summer of 1968, when the first working paper on the subject was presented by Fred Mulley (UK Minister of State for Foreign Affairs) to the US Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA), the BTWC had experienced a troubled existence. After its entry into force, the Convention proved often unable to guarantee adequate compliance with its provisions and still struggles to cope with scientific and technological changes. This paper investigates the reasons behind such a poor record and traces them back to the geopolitical origins of the convention itself. In particular, it examines the transatlantic convergence and divergence of interests and views on biological disarmament immediately before and during the negotiation process of the BTWC (1966-1972) and the way they influenced the final text of the treaty. The analysis relies both on published literature and on declassified documents held by The National Archive in London, The National Academy of Science Archive and the Foreign Relations of the United States National Archive. The documents demonstrate the extent to which scientists and political analysts on both sides of the Atlantic (among others M.S. Meselson and Hedley Bull) were aware of the existing and perspective issues posed by biological weapons. However, the present study also reveals how such lucid and far-sighting accounts, albeit made available to both states’ governments, were lost in the process and proved unable to make their mark at the service of an effective and durable disarmament. During the final rounds of the BTWC negotiation diverse political interests and dynamics prevailed. The decisions taken back then were destined to haunt and policymakers to the present day.