The number of nuclear weapons is increasing for the first time in decades. Nuclear testing is on the table again and Global military spending to rise to $2.7 trillion by 2025.
Addressing the General Assembly, Antonio Guterres said the foundation of efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons is weakening, commitments have not been met and trust and credibility are eroding. “We need to reinvigorate the treaty,” he declared.
He said today’s nuclear threat is heightened by new threats from rapidly evolving technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
Reflecting concerns about the increasing use of AI in military conflicts, Mr Guterres reiterated the UN’s view that until nuclear weapons are eliminated, humanity should never give up control over them.
‘The path is less certain’
The secretary-general’s warnings were echoed by the chair of the latest NPT review, Do Hung Viet, Vietnam’s Permanent Representative, who was elected by acclamation on Monday.
Mr. Viet acknowledged the important role played by the Treaty in preventing the use of nuclear weapons over the past five decades, and noted the review conferences – which, apart from postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, have been held every five years – as a context for “where we stand and where we should go”.
That path is becoming less certain, he said, as military spending reaches new record highs every year and nuclear arsenals grow.
“A world without the NPT,” he added, “is a world where the taboo against nuclear weapons becomes even weaker. This is not a prospect we want for ourselves or our children.“
Briefing journalists in New York, Mr Viet warned that, while the treaty has helped prevent the spread of nuclear weapons since the 1970s, its relevance and credibility are now at risk.
“This is not just another conference,” he declared. The danger is great because the threat of nuclear war is being seen and felt more concretely these days. Nuclear arms race looms“
The Vietnamese diplomat recalled that the two previous review conferences (in 2022 and 2015) failed to reach consensus, and called on delegates to work constructively to find a compromise this time.
In March 1954, an atmospheric nuclear test was conducted by the United States at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
Iran conflict casts long shadow
Before the conference began, diplomats heard objections to Iran’s candidacy for the post of vice-chairman of the General Committee.
The representative of the United States said the move was “an affront to the NPT” and argued that Iran had violated the treaty by the way it pursued its nuclear program.
The US denied that Tehran could be seen as a leader on nuclear non-proliferation. Australia, Britain (also speaking on behalf of France and Germany) and the United Arab Emirates also raised objections.
However, the representative of Russia described the US intervention from the outset as an attempt to politicize the conference and called on delegations with criticisms to express them during the general debate.
The Iranian representative described the objections as “baseless and devoid of any credibility” and an attempt to manipulate the conference.
“The United States is the only state that has used nuclear weapons, and continues to expand its arsenal, in violation of its NPT obligations,” he said.
Mr. Viet pointed out during his press conference that Iran was nominated for the designation by the Non-Aligned Movement faction several months ago, and concerns were only raised in the past few days.
To maintain consensus on the matter, Mr Viet said countries objecting to Iran’s candidacy agreed to formally recuse themselves from the decision rather than call for a vote.
11th The NPT review takes place at UN Headquarters from 27 April to 22 May. The sessions will be broadcast live united nations webtv.
