UN Secretary-General Calls for Global Action to End Nuclear Testing
The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has urged countries around the world to take more decisive action in putting an end to nuclear testing. In his message to mark the International Day against Nuclear Tests, Guterres emphasized the dangers of continuing with these tests while highlighting the rise in global mistrust and division.
Guterres pointed out that there are approximately 13,000 nuclear weapons stockpiled worldwide, with countries actively working to enhance their accuracy, reach, and destructive power. He emphasized that under such circumstances, the risk of annihilation is significantly heightened. Therefore, Guterres stressed the significance of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and called for key countries to ratify this international agreement, which prohibits nuclear testing for both peaceful and military purposes.
The CTBT was opened for signature in 1996, but it has yet to enter into force. One of the requirements for its implementation is the ratification by 44 specific nuclear technology holder countries. To date, eight of these countries, including China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Pakistan, and the United States, have not ratified the treaty.
Speaking on behalf of the victims of nuclear testing, Guterres appealed to all countries that have not ratified the Treaty to do so immediately and without any conditions. He stressed the importance of acknowledging the suffering caused by nuclear testing and taking steps to prevent further devastation in the future.
Similarly, the President of the UN General Assembly, Csaba Kőrösi, echoed Guterres’ message during a commemorative event in New York. Kőrösi emphasized the heightened dangers in the world due to increased distrust, geopolitical competition, and armed conflicts. He called for disarmament efforts focused on a human-centered approach and emphasized that investing in nuclear weapons is contradictory to global commitments for a sustainable future.
Kőrösi underscored the significance of the CTBT as a reminder that there is unfinished business in the realm of nuclear disarmament. He urged the remaining countries to sign and ratify the treaty promptly, highlighting the importance of learning from history and preventing global nuclear destruction.
The UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, also stressed the urgency for action. While acknowledging the unilateral moratoria against nuclear tests adopted by certain nuclear-weapon States, Nakamitsu emphasized the necessity of a legally binding prohibition against all nuclear tests. The CTBT, though not in force yet, stands as a testament to the global goal of eliminating nuclear weapons.
The International Day Against Nuclear Tests has been observed annually on August 29 since 2010. This date marks the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site in Kazakhstan in 1991. With over 450 nuclear devices exploded over four decades, the closure of the site symbolizes the world’s determination to end nuclear testing.
In conclusion, the call for global action to end nuclear testing is growing louder, with UN leaders urging countries to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. The world faces the urgent task of preventing nuclear destruction and ensuring a future free from the threats of nuclear weapons.
