Fifty-six former presidents, prime ministers, foreign ministers and defence ministers from 20 NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) member states, as well as Japan and South Korea, have issued an open letter calling on current leaders to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
The treaty primarily adopted in 2017 with the support of 122 countries, outlawed nuclear weapons and established a framework for their total elimination.
To date, 84 countries have signed it, 44 have ratified it, and Malta has announced that it will deposit its ratification today becoming the 45th country to join the treaty.