List of States Possessing Chemical Weapons: Russia and the US Included

Russia and the United States (US) are recorded as the world's largest owners of chemical weapons.

According to data from the Arms Control Association (ACA), Russia once declared that it possessed 40,000 metric tons of chemical weapons. However, all of these weapons were claimed to have been destroyed by 2017.

The US declared possessing 27,771 metric tons of chemical weapons. According to ACA data, most of the US's chemical weapons have been destroyed, but 1,731 metric tons remained as of 2020. The US claims it will destroy all remaining stockpiles by September 2023.

Syria possessed 1,308 metric tons of chemical weapons and claims to have completed their destruction. However, the exact amount destroyed has not been clearly recorded.

India possessed 1,044 metric tons of chemical weapons, claimed to have been completely destroyed by 2009. South Korea possessed 605 metric tons, claimed to have been completely destroyed by 2008.

Libya possessed 24.7 metric tons of chemical weapons, claimed to have been destroyed by 2013. This is followed by Albania with 16 metric tons, claimed to have been destroyed by 2007.

China, Iran, and Iraq are also recorded as having possessed chemical weapons and having carried out their destruction. However, the ACA did not record the exact amounts.

Chemical Weapons Banned Under International Convention

Chemical weapons have been internationally banned through the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), in effect since 1997.

The CWC is a multilateral treaty that prohibits the use and possession of chemical weapons, and requires countries possessing them to destroy them within a specified timeframe.

According to data from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the supervisory organization, the CWC treaty has been ratified by 193 countries to date, including the US and Russia.

However, there are also countries that have not joined this convention and are suspected of possessing chemical weapons, namely Egypt, North Korea, and South Sudan.

The ACA also notes that although CWC ratifying countries claim to have carried out destruction, suspicion and mutual accusations between countries remain strong because data related to chemical weapons tends to be closed and difficult to verify.