UN chief ‘disappointed’ as nuclear treaty conference ends without agreement

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed disappointment on Friday after a major conference on preventing the spread of nuclear weapons concluded without a final agreement among participating countries. “The Secretary-General expresses his disappointment at the inability of the Eleventh Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) to reach consensus on a substantive outcome and to seize this critical opportunity to make our world safer,” spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement. The NPT is an international treaty aimed at preventing nuclear weapon proliferation, promoting disarmament, and supporting the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Missed opportunity

Dujarric said Guterres “welcomes the sincere and meaningful engagement by States parties,” but regrets that the Review Conference “fell short, especially at a time of such pressing challenges that threaten international security.” The statement noted that “the current international environment, marked by deep tensions and an elevated risk posed by nuclear weapons, demands urgent action.” Guterres called on countries “to make full use of all available avenues of dialogue, diplomacy, and negotiation to reduce tensions, lower nuclear risks, and ultimately eliminate the nuclear threat.”