EU tells UN First Committee the NPT is the ‘cornerstone’ of non-proliferation, warns on New START expiry and Russian nuclear rhetoric

The European Union told the UN General Assembly’s First Committee on 17 October that the Non-Proliferation Treaty remains the cornerstone of the global non-proliferation regime, while condemning Russian nuclear rhetoric and warning about the expiry of New START. The statement was delivered in New York during the nuclear weapons debate of the committee’s 81st session.

It was read by Klemen Polak, Minister Counsellor at the EU delegation, on behalf of the EU and its member states. North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco and San Marino aligned themselves with the text, according to the published statement.

Russia, arms control and testing

The EU called Russia’s nuclear statements and threats in its war against Ukraine “irresponsible, provocative, dangerous and escalatory”. It voiced concern about planned nuclear deployments in Belarus and about the use of dual-capable missiles in Ukraine, and urged Moscow to reverse the withdrawal of its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

On New START, the statement warned that its expiry risks miscalculation and an arms race. The EU asked for a new legally binding framework and urged the United States and Russia to observe the existing limits in the meantime. It also marked the 30th anniversary of the test-ban treaty, called on the remaining Annex 2 states to sign and ratify it, and asked for negotiations on a ban on fissile material production.

China, Iran and North Korea

The EU said it is deeply concerned by what it described as China’s rapid and opaque nuclear build-up, which it said raises doubts about Beijing’s no-first-use policy, and called for transparency and an arms control dialogue. It welcomed national reports from France and the United Kingdom on their nuclear doctrines and asked all nuclear-weapon states to follow.

On Iran, the EU expressed grave concern over Tehran’s refusal to engage with the International Atomic Energy Agency and said it backs the September IAEA Board resolution asking the Director General to report Iran’s non-compliance to the UN Security Council. It added that “Iran must never be allowed to develop or acquire a nuclear weapon” and offered support for negotiations. On North Korea, it demanded compliance with Security Council resolutions, rejected any nuclear-weapon-state status for Pyongyang and condemned Russia-North Korea military cooperation.

The statement also regretted that the NPT Review Conference ended without a consensus outcome document, welcomed Syria’s engagement with the IAEA, and reaffirmed support for a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. India, Israel and Pakistan were urged to join the treaty as non-nuclear-weapon states.

Context

The EU text follows earlier exchanges in the same committee. Geopolitiki reported on the opening debate in UN First Committee opens debate with Ukraine, Iran, Japan and others split over nuclear deterrence and on the later session in UN First Committee turns to confidence-building on nuclear risk as US, China, Iran and Israel trade positions.