What did the Washington Conference primarily focus on?

The Washington Conference, held in 1921-1922, primarily focused on limiting the size of navies to address the naval arms race that had emerged in the wake of World War I. Attendees, including representatives from major naval powers such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, France, and Italy, sought to prevent further militarization and maintain peace through disarmament agreements, specifically regarding capital ships. This led to significant treaties like the Five-Power Treaty, which established limitations on naval tonnage and the number of warships each country could possess.

The focus on naval limitations was a response to the growing tensions and competitive naval expansions that threatened global stability. The efforts at the Washington Conference marked a significant moment in early 20th-century diplomacy, emphasizing the importance of disarmament as a means to secure peace.

The other options, such as disarmament of nuclear weapons, economic partnerships, and eliminating trade barriers, were not central topics at the Washington Conference. Nuclear disarmament became a major global concern post-World War II, while economic partnerships and trade barriers relate more closely to later developments in international relations rather than the primary goals of the Washington Conference.