Treaty of Rarotonga
21°13′42.8″S 159°46′35.5″W / 21.228556°S 159.776528°W
| South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty | |
|---|---|
Signed and ratified Treaty of Rarotonga | |
| Type | Nuclear disarmament |
| Signed | 6 August 1985 |
| Location | Rarotonga, Cook Islands |
| Effective | 11 December 1986 |
| Parties | 13 |
The Treaty of Rarotonga is the common name for the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, which formalises a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the South Pacific. The treaty bans the use, testing, and possession of nuclear weapons within the borders of the zone.
It was signed by the South Pacific nations of Australia, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu on the island of Rarotonga (where the capital of the Cook Islands is located) on 6 August 1985, came into force on 11 December 1986 with the 8th ratification, and has since been ratified by all of those states.
The Marshall Islands signed the treaty on March 1, 2025. The Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau are not party to the treaties but are eligible to become parties should they decide to join the treaty in the future.