EU Statement – UN General Assembly 1st Committee: Nuclear Weapons (Cluster 1)
Chair,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.
The Candidate Countries North Macedonia, Montenegro*, Albania*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, and Bosnia and Herzegovina*, and the EFTA country Iceland, member of the European Economic Area, as well as Andorra, Monaco and San Marino align themselves with this statement.
The task before us is challenging. While we recognise new security realities, we must preserve and strengthen the achievements of the international disarmament, arms control, and non-proliferation system, and addressing the rising risks of a nuclear arms race, proliferation risks and the resurgence of nuclear threats.
In this context, preserving the NPT and fully implementing all obligations under it, together with all related commitments made during previous Review Conferences, remain a fundamental priority for the EU and its Member States. While it is regrettable that consensus on an outcome document was not achieved at this year’s Review Conference, the NPT continues to be of utmost value, and the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, the essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament according to its Article VI, and an important element in developing nuclear energy applications for peaceful purposes according to its Article IV.
The NPT remains a success story, providing benefits and security for us all, despite facing notable challenges with the resurgence of nuclear rhetoric, as witnessed by Russia’s actions in its unjustified and illegal full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine. China’s rapid and opaque expansion of its nuclear arsenal, ongoing regional proliferation crises, and an uneven implementation of obligations and commitments, also contribute to this complex situation.
The EU notes the very severe consequences associated with nuclear weapons use and emphasises that all States share the responsibility to prevent such an occurrence from happening. In this regard, it recalls the Joint Statement of Leaders of Five Nuclear-Weapon States on Preventing Nuclear War and Avoiding Arms Races, including the principle that ‘a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought’, to which the wider United Nations (UN) membership has committed through the Pact for the Future.
Universal and full adherence to the NPT is essential to strengthening the global disarmament and non-proliferation regime. In this respect, we call upon all States that have not yet done so, in particular India, Israel and Pakistan, to join it as non-nuclear weapon states and, pending their accession, to adhere to its terms.
The EU condemns in the strongest possible way Russia’s actions, its nuclear rhetoric and its threats to use nuclear force in its war of aggression against Ukraine, which are irresponsible, provocative, dangerous and escalatory. This includes deep concern about Russia’s announced deployment of nuclear weapons in the territory of Belarus and the use of dual-capable missiles in Ukraine. With these actions, in addition to the violation of the INF Treaty, which led to its demise, and the violation of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, Russia undermines the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime, as well as international peace and security. We call on Russia and Belarus to abide by all their commitments made in the 1994 Budapest Memorandum.
Recalling the obligations for all nuclear-weapons States arising from Article VI, with the ultimate goal of total elimination of nuclear weapons, reiterating our commitment to further reductions of nuclear arsenals, underlining the special responsibility of the States with the largest nuclear arsenals, we strongly encourage seeking further reductions to their nuclear arsenals, including strategic and non-strategic, as well as deployed and non-deployed, nuclear weapons. In this context, the EU notes the potential serious repercussions of the expiry of the New START Treaty. The absence of agreed limits and verification measures risks miscalculations and an arms race. The EU calls for urgent work towards a new legally binding framework limiting the largest nuclear arsenals and encourages the United States and Russia to maintain in the meantime the agreed limits on their nuclear arsenals. We call on China to contribute and engage actively and constructively.
Statements expressing concerns about possible nuclear weapons explosive testing, as well as Russia’s unprecedented decision to revoke its ratification of the CTBT, make it all the more urgent to bring the CTBT into force on this, its 30th anniversary. The EU urges all States that have not yet done so, in particular Annex 2 States, to sign and ratify it without precondition or further delay. The EU calls on all States to abide by the moratorium on nuclear weapon test explosions or any nuclear explosion and calls on all States to uphold the CTBT’s object and purpose, while urging Russia to reverse its decision to revoke its ratification.
The EU also calls for the immediate commencement and early conclusion of negotiations of a treaty banning the production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices on the basis of document CD/1299. Pending its entry into force, the EU urges China and all other States concerned to declare and uphold an immediate moratorium on the production of fissile material for such purposes.
The EU remains deeply concerned by China’s rapid and opaque expansion of its nuclear arsenal, which is inconsistent with its disarmament commitments under the NPT and raises doubts about the credibility of its No First Use Policy. We call on China to demonstrate transparency, and engage in meaningful arms control dialogue, risk reduction and confidence-building measures, and enhanced information sharing.
The EU recalls Action 5 of the NPT 2010 Action Plan, and welcomes in this regard that France and the UK presented their national reports at the NPT RevCon this year to demonstrate increased transparency, including on their doctrines, and calls on all others to do likewise. It is essential that nuclear weapon states enhance transparency, build mutual confidence, and fully engage in relevant risk reduction measures.
The EU stresses the urgent need to address nuclear proliferation challenges, reaffirming the importance of the IAEA’s impartial, independent and objective safeguards and calling for the universalisation without delay of Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements and the Additional Protocol as the current verification standard. In this regard, we congratulate Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for the entry into force of its Additional Protocol last year and Guinea and Somalia for bringing into force their CSA and AP in 2026.
The EU follows developments in Iran and the Middle East with utmost concern. The EU remains strongly committed to peace, security and stability in the Middle East and to finding a lasting diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. The EU, including through the efforts of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, is ready to support the negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme. We have always been clear that Iran must never be allowed to develop or acquire a nuclear weapon and that it must comply with all its legally binding obligations under the NPT and relevant Security Council resolutions, and its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and fully cooperate with the IAEA. The EU is gravely concerned by Iran’s continued refusal to engage with the IAEA. As clearly indicated by IAEA Director General, Iran’s implementation of its Safeguards Agreement cannot be suspended under any circumstances and there is no technical reason preventing IAEA inspectors returning to all nuclear facilities. We urge Iran to promptly facilitate the full and effective implementation of verification activities by the Agency and urgently address concerns regarding the possible diversion of declared nuclear material from peaceful uses. The EU has supported the resolution adopted by the IAEA Board of Governors in September, requesting the Director General to report Iran’s non-compliance to the Security Council, thereby completing a procedural step required under the IAEA Statute and crucial to uphold the Board’s credibility.
The EU remains firmly committed to the establishment of a zone free of nuclear and all other weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems in the Middle East, based on arrangements freely arrived at among States of the region concerned.
The EU urges the DPRK to cease all unlawful activities and fully comply with all relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The DPRK cannot and will not have the status of a nuclear weapon state under the NPT, or any other special status. The DPRK must resume its full compliance with the NPT and IAEA safeguards obligations, bring into force an Additional Protocol and sign and ratify the CTBT without delay. We call on the DPRK and Russia to immediately cease their illegal military cooperation, which violate UNSC resolutions. The EU expresses its deep concern about Russia’s disturbing shift of position on the DPRK’s denuclearisation since 2024, which undermines decades of non-proliferation efforts in exchange for support for its war of aggression against Ukraine. The EU remains firmly committed to the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, and stands ready to support any meaningful diplomatic efforts in this regard.
The EU welcomes Syria’s transparent and comprehensive engagement with the IAEA to clarify and close outstanding safeguards issues arising from activities under the former regime and open a new phase of cooperation. We welcome the recent resolution of the IAEA Board in this respect, which demonstrates the value of full cooperation with the IAEA. In this spirit, we strongly encourage Syria to conclude and bring into force an Additional Protocol to fully rebuild confidence in the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities.
I thank you, Chair.
- North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.