UN Chief warns of nuclear proliferation, urges review of NPT

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that nuclear proliferation is accelerating, raising concerns over a renewed global arms race.

Speaking at the opening of a meeting of states party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) at UN headquarters in New York on Monday, Guterres said the landmark agreement is weakening as commitments remain unfulfilled and global trust continues to erode.

“The treaty is fading, commitments remain unfulfilled, trust and credibility are eroding, and the impulses for proliferation are accelerating,” he said, urging countries to work towards revitalising the pact.

Speaking at a high-level conference on nuclear non-proliferation, Guterres said the world is experiencing a “collective amnesia” about the dangers of nuclear weapons, even as geopolitical tensions and military spending surge worldwide.

He reminded delegates that the goal of eliminating nuclear weapons dates back to the UN’s first General Assembly resolution in 1946, but cautioned that progress is now under serious strain.

“Nuclear sabers rattle once more. Mistrust rules the day. Hard-won norms are eroding. Arms control is dying,” he said.

According to Guterres, global military spending reached USD 2.7 trillion last year—far exceeding development aid and reflecting what he described as misplaced global priorities. He also warned that, for the first time in decades, the number of nuclear warheads is increasing, while discussions about resuming nuclear testing and acquiring nuclear weapons are re-emerging in some countries.

He stressed that nuclear weapons do not provide security, reiterating a long-standing principle of international security: “A nuclear war cannot be won and must not be fought.”

The Secretary-General highlighted the continued importance of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), calling it the “bedrock” of global disarmament efforts. However, he cautioned that the treaty is weakening due to unmet commitments and declining trust among states.

Guterres urged governments to take two immediate steps: first, to fully honour their existing obligations under the NPT without delay or exception; and second, to modernize the treaty framework to address emerging risks such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing in relation to nuclear systems.

He also called for stronger safeguards under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), renewed efforts to prevent nuclear testing, and progress toward eliminating nuclear weapons entirely.

“The Treaty is not a relic of a former age,” Guterres said. “It must ensure that humanity never cedes control over nuclear weapons, even as technology rapidly evolves.”

He concluded by warning that the future of global nuclear stability depends entirely on political will, urging countries to “breathe life” back into international disarmament efforts before it is too late.

Vietnam’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Do Hung Viet, who is chairing the conference, said the meeting is unlikely to resolve deepening geopolitical tensions. He stressed the need for a “balanced outcome” that reinforces core obligations and offers practical steps to strengthen the treaty.

He also warned that the outcome of the conference could have lasting global implications, saying it could shape security dynamics well beyond the next five years as concerns of a new nuclear arms race grow.

The two-week conference comes amid rising geopolitical tensions and growing uncertainty over whether member states can reach a meaningful consensus on strengthening the 1970 treaty, which remains the cornerstone of global nuclear non-proliferation efforts.