António Guterres expressed disappointment after a major United Nations nuclear conference ended without a consensus agreement on Friday. The failed talks involved members of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty reviewing global commitments on nuclear disarmament and security. The outcome raised concerns as global tensions and nuclear risks continue to increase.
According to a statement delivered by UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, Guterres regretted the conference’s inability to produce a meaningful final agreement. He said the gathering missed a critical opportunity to strengthen international security and reduce nuclear threats. Nevertheless, the UN chief acknowledged the sincere engagement shown by participating member states during negotiations.
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The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, commonly known as the NPT, aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons worldwide. The treaty also promotes nuclear disarmament and encourages the peaceful use of nuclear energy. However, growing geopolitical tensions and security concerns complicated discussions during the latest review conference.
In the statement, Guterres warned that the current international environment requires urgent diplomatic action to lower nuclear risks. He called on countries to fully utilise dialogue, negotiations, and diplomacy to ease tensions and prevent escalation. Furthermore, he reaffirmed that achieving a world free of nuclear weapons remains the United Nations’ highest disarmament priority.
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The statement also described the NPT as the foundation of the global nuclear non-proliferation framework. Guterres thanked conference president Do Hung Viet for his leadership and efforts throughout the discussions. Despite the conference deadlock, the UN signalled continued support for future negotiations aimed at advancing nuclear disarmament goals.