New York, 1 April 2023 (TDI): United Nations (UN) High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, pointed out that urgent efforts must be made to reduce nuclear risk and de-escalate tensions.
She made these observations in the Security Council meeting on threats to international peace and security.
“States must avoid taking any actions that could lead to escalation, mistake or miscalculation.”
– @UN_Disarmament chief @INakamitsu tells Security Council following Russian announcement of plans to station non-strategic nuclear weapons in Belarus. https://t.co/MdIsRTmw7Q
— United Nations (@UN) March 31, 2023
“The risk of a nuclear weapon being used is currently higher than at any time since the depths of the cold war,” said Izumi Nakamitsu, UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs. “The war in Ukraine represents the most acute example of that risk.”
In addition, the Security Council meeting was called after President Vladimir Putin’s announcement last Sunday that it had reached an agreement with its neighbor.
Further, she highlighted that Moscow had announced the stationing of non-strategic nuclear weapons inside Belarusian territory, which would be in place for aerial use, by July.
Nuclear Escalation
Moreover, Nakamitsu said the absence of dialogue and the erosion of the disarmament and arms control architecture, combined with dangerous rhetoric and veiled threats, are critical drivers of this potentially existential risk posed by nuclear escalation.
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“When it comes to issues related to nuclear weapons, all States must avoid taking any actions that could lead to escalation, mistake or miscalculation,” she said.
Furthermore, she emphasized that all States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of nuclear weapons, or the NPT – nuclear-armed states and non-nuclear-weapon States alike – must strictly adhere to its commitments and obligations.
“They should return to dialogue to de-escalate tensions urgently and find ways to develop and implement transparency and confidence-building measures,” she said.
Additionally, in her speech, she appealed to States parties to the treaty to fully adhere to their obligations and to immediately engage in serious efforts to reduce nuclear risk.
Nuclear Weapons Sharing
The issue of “nuclear sharing”, the hosting by a non-nuclear weapon State of a nuclear-weapon State’s nuclear weapons, she said.
“For the sake of all our security”, she echoed the UN Secretary-General’s call for Russia and the United States to return to full implementation of the New START Treaty and commence negotiations on its successor.
