International experts convene in London to tackle evolving chemical weapons threats

Hosted by the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), the conference, which has been running since 1998, provided an international forum for exchanging expertise, sharing lessons from chemical weapons destruction programmes and developing practical responses to current and emerging chemical weapons challenges. 

Opening the conference, keynote speakers included Damian Johnson, Director for Homeland Defence and Strategic Threats at the Ministry of Defence; Sabrina Dallafior, Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW); Cassandra Simmons-Brown, Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Programs (Acting); and Dr Paul Hollinshead, Chief Executive of Dstl. 

The opening address reflected on the changing chemical weapons landscape, including the opportunity to address the legacy of the Assad chemical weapons programme in Syria, the continuing threat posed by chemical weapons use by Russia, and the importance of maintaining momentum and preserving expertise to ensure the international norm against chemical weapons is protected, strengthened and enforced.   

Ministry of Defence’s Director for Homeland Defence and Strategic Threats, Damian Johnson said: