Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The 11th Review Conference of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) ended Friday at the United Nations Headquarters in New York without consensus on a final declaration after four weeks of negotiations. Ambassador Do Hung Viet, President of the conference, acknowledged the "sincere and meaningful engagement" of delegates but expressed disappointment at their inability to reach agreement to strengthen the treaty, which has not been updated in sixteen years. He warned that the current international environment, marked by heightened tensions and nuclear risks, calls for urgent action to prevent further deterioration of the treaty’s effectiveness.
Izumi Nakamitsu, UN disarmament chief, stressed the interconnected nature of non-proliferation and disarmament obligations. She urged nuclear-weapon states to commit to their disarmament responsibilities, cautioning that non-proliferation efforts alone are insufficient to preserve the treaty regime.
The conference's failure to reach consensus comes amid growing concerns over the modernization and expansion of nuclear arsenals globally. Ambassador Viet expressed concern about the long-term health of the treaty in the absence of substantive outcomes to enhance its objectives.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres also expressed regret that the conference fell short of expectations, despite acknowledging the sincere efforts of participating states, especially given the pressing challenges posed by global nuclear threats.