The High-Level Meeting held to commemorate the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons on 26 September was a crucial event where global leaders gathered to address the pressing issue of nuclear disarmament. The meeting was a platform for discussions and calls to action to eliminate the threat posed by nuclear weapons.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres set the tone for the meeting by emphasizing the urgent need to rid the world of these destructive weapons. He firmly stated, “There should be no place for these devices of death in our world.” Guterres highlighted the alarming resurgence of nuclear threats, drawing parallels to the tense atmosphere of the Cold War era. He expressed concern over the escalating nuclear sabre-rattling and the looming spectre of a potential arms race.
Moreover, Guterres lamented the erosion of established norms against the use, spread, and testing of nuclear weapons. Decades-old agreements and treaties aimed at curbing nuclear proliferation are under threat, raising fears of a resurgence in nuclear tensions globally.
In a poignant moment during the meeting, Guterres met with survivors of the atomic bomb attacks on Nagasaki and Hiroshima, known as the hibakusha. These survivors serve as living testaments to the catastrophic consequences of nuclear warfare. Guterres emphasized the importance of learning from the past and heeding the warnings of those who have experienced the horrors of nuclear devastation firsthand.
The Secretary-General urged nuclear-weapon States to reevaluate their stance on disarmament and to honor their commitments to reducing their nuclear arsenals. He stressed the need for transparency in all matters related to nuclear weapons and called for a renewed commitment to never use these weapons under any circumstances.
Guterres made a specific appeal to Russia and the United States, the two largest nuclear powers, to resume nuclear arms reduction talks as a crucial step towards disarmament. He emphasized that disarmament and non-proliferation efforts must go hand in hand to ensure global security and stability.
The Secretary-General referenced the recent Summit of the Future, where international leaders reaffirmed their commitment to revitalizing the global disarmament regime. He emphasized the overwhelming support from the vast majority of UN Member States for the total elimination of nuclear weapons and called for concrete actions to ensure that these weapons are never used again.
UN General Assembly President Philémon Yang echoed Guterres’ concerns about the escalating nuclear risks in the modern world. Yang highlighted the interconnected nature of nuclear weapons with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and cyber space, which amplify the potential for a catastrophic nuclear event. He emphasized the urgent need for international collaboration to address these complex challenges and prevent a nuclear catastrophe.
Yang also touched upon the breakdown in international efforts towards nuclear disarmament, citing the failure to reach a consensus at a key conference in 2022. This setback underscores the importance of renewed commitment and cooperation among nations to address the growing nuclear threats facing the world.
The High-Level Meeting served as a stark reminder of the critical need for global action to eliminate the threat of nuclear weapons. Leaders and representatives from around the world came together to reaffirm their commitment to nuclear disarmament and to advocate for a world free from the spectre of nuclear warfare. The discussions and calls to action from the meeting underscored the pressing need for concerted efforts to ensure the total elimination of nuclear weapons and to safeguard the future of humanity.
