Rising nuclear risks test the global security pact at UN Headquarters

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is widely considered one of the greatest successes in the history of the United Nations.

This treaty, in effect since 1970, was designed to curb the spread of nuclear weapons, advance nuclear disarmament, and encourage the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The treaty has been ratified by 191 Member States, making it one of the most widely adhered to multilateral treaties and a cornerstone of international security.

In the last 54 years, nuclear weapons have never been used in conflict, so the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 were the only atomic bombs dropped.

Dangerous and uncharted territory

But the global system governing nuclear weapons is facing its most serious crisis in decades. Most Cold War-era treaties have been abandoned or expired: the 2010 US-Russian New START treaty – which limited the deployment of strategic nuclear warheads – expired in February with no replacement.

At that time, the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that the world was entering uncharted territory, with no legally binding limits on the nuclear arsenals of the United States and Russia – the two countries that together possess most of the world’s nuclear weapons.

This new era of distrust was reflected in two review conferences of the Treaty, in 2015 and 2022, which ended without agreement on a substantive final document – ​​underscoring how divided countries remain over priorities, obligations and the way forward.

This year’s Review of the Treaty, taking place from April 27 to May 22, will assess how well it is being implemented and whether it can deliver progress on disarmament, self-control and cooperation amid current security challenges.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, said the event provided an opportunity for countries to identify common ground, against the backdrop of an extremely difficult security environment and increasingly concerning rhetoric.

“The threat of using nuclear weapons is becoming more frequent, and we don’t want this to become the norm,” he said. “The more countries possess nuclear weapons, the greater the risk of nuclear weapons being used accidentally.”

The review conference, the senior UN official added, “will not be just an exercise. Diplomats need to steer it towards a successful outcome because it concerns the future of the world’s nuclear order.”