Chemical Weapons and Just War

Abstract

The threat posed by CBRN weapons has been increasing for years as technology advances and the political environment changes. The proliferation of nuclear weapons and the continued emergence of chemical weapons in armed conflicts have highlighted the fragility of the safety measures of international conventions. States seeking to acquire weapons of mass destruction see these weapons as a form of deterrent, a guarantee of security. Can a war in which the victims of weapons of mass destruction are mainly innocent civilians be fair? Can legitimate self-defense justify the use of these weapons? Does the use of chemical weapons fit into the Catholic Church’s views on just war?