'Looming' risk of nuclear arms race, UN proliferation meeting hears

Signatories of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) convened at the United Nations on Monday, amid escalating concerns over a potential arms race. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted that "the drivers of proliferation are accelerating," warning that the stability provided by the treaty has been weakening over time.

Guterres stated, "For too long, the treaty has been eroding. Commitments remain unfulfilled. Trust and credibility are wearing thin." He expressed that humanity is merely "one misunderstanding, one miscalculation away from nuclear annihilation," stressing the urgent need for revitalization of the NPT.

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot remarked that the current risk of nuclear proliferation is unprecedented, particularly due to the ongoing programs in Iran and North Korea. The geopolitical frictions exacerbated by conflicts have halted significant progress toward disarmament since the NPT's last review in 2022.

The conference president, Do Hung Viet, emphasized that while no immediate solutions are anticipated, a balanced outcome reaffirming core commitments could help stabilize the treaty's integrity. He noted that "the prospects of a new nuclear arms race are looming over us."

The NPT aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, promote disarmament, and foster cooperation regarding civilian nuclear energy. However, the nine nuclear-armed states collectively possess 12,241 nuclear warheads, with Russia and the United States holding nearly 90% of them. Recent modernization efforts and increasing tensions have resulted in grave concerns for disarmament advocates.

As the conference progresses, the presence of division over crucial issues, such as Iran's vice presidency at the meeting—deemed an "affront" by the U.S. envoy—may complicate consensus on key decisions, further raising alarms over the potential for a renewed nuclear arms race.