Nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, challenges to international peace and security, geopolitical tensions and armed conflicts, as well as possible threats from artificial intelligence, remained central topics of the general debate today in the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security).
The discussion reflected differing national positions on ongoing conflicts, including the war in Ukraine and tensions in South Asia. At the same time, speakers called for diplomacy, multilateral cooperation, legally binding security assurances, and the expansion of nuclear-weapon-free zones.
The representative of Latvia stressed that the Russian Federation’s illegal seizure and continued militarization of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine remains the most serious threat to nuclear safety and security, marking the first instance in history of a nuclear facility being used for military purposes.
He also drew attention to Moscow’s reckless and escalatory nuclear rhetoric, its announced deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus, revocation of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty ratification and suspension of New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) implementation.
In rebuttal, the Russian Federation’s delegate accused a group of Western States of resorting even more often to brute force, imposing their own rules on all and deliberately provoking chaos and disorder. While Europe has taken the course towards total militarization, the security of the Russian Federation will be provided for in all circumstances, he stressed.
“As was stated by the Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia does not threaten and has no intention to pose a threat to European States,” he said, adding that there should be no doubt in his country’s capabilities to respond to any aggression. He also condemned such examples of reckless, inhumane and destructive policy as the United States intervention in Venezuela and the capture of its legitimate President, the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader and the energy blockade of Cuba.
Delegates Call for Dialogue, Warn of Mass Destruction Threats
Pakistan’s delegate expressed regret that the Russia-Ukraine conflict has raged on for four years now. “It is more than evident that there is no military solution to the conflict,” he said. Calling for dialogue and diplomacy, he recalled that his country acted as a mediator between Iran and the United States in an effort culminating in a ceasefire.
Turning to the home front, he said: “Last year, India launched an unprovoked military assault against Pakistan.” India has since elevated that aggression into declared policy, claiming the right to strike Pakistan at a time of its choosing on any pretext that it can manufacture, he said. “Pakistan does not seek an arms race, but we have the capacity to defend ourselves as evidenced by our response in May 2025.” The notion that a limited conventional war can be fought and contained under a nuclear overhang is a dangerous delusion, he emphasized.
Venezuela’s representative, urging the international community to save the planet from the existential danger of weapons of mass destruction, said: “As is the case with Venezuela itself, which is currently in a period of rebirth, the UN and multilateralism must also be reborn.”
She confirmed her country’s historical position to champion the total elimination of nuclear weapons. “Latin America and the Caribbean continue to offer an invaluable example in this regard through the Treaty of Tlatelolco and the proclamation of the region as a zone of peace,” she underscored.
Speakers Support Expansion of Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones
The representative of Saudi Arabia reaffirmed it is fully committed to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. “We believe that peace and security is achieved through dialogue and cooperation”, he said, urging Israel, as the only State in the Middle East that has not acceded to the Treaty, to join it without delay and place all its nuclear facilities under the International Atomic Energy Agency's comprehensive safeguards regime.
He also condemned continued Houthi terrorists’ attacks targeting civilians and civilian economic infrastructure in Yemen, as well as their attacks on Islamic holy sites, Saudi vessels in the southern Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Recalling that the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone is the result of the collective political will of all five Central Asian States, Kyrgyzstan’s delegate stressed that regional security can be strengthened through legally binding commitments, verification and cooperation. “We also see an opportunity to move from dialogue to more structured practical cooperation among nuclear-weapon-free zones,” he said, proposing regular interregional dialogue among the zones.
In the same vein, Kenya’s representative called for meaningful progress on legally binding security assurances for non-nuclear-weapon States. “We remain firmly committed to the vision of the Pelindaba Treaty of an African nuclear weapons free zone that strengthens regional and international security,” he said.
Artificial Intelligence Increases Risks in Warfare
Many delegates expressed concerns over adverse implications of emerging technologies in the military domain, including artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous weapons systems (AWS), for global peace and security. “While the rapid evolution of AI technologies promote transformative development in sectors such as agriculture and health, it poses increasing risks when applied to warfare,” warned the representative of Sierra Leone. She said these technologies must be aligned with international norms governing peace and security.
Similarly, the delegate for Brunei Darussalam recognized the growing impact of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies on international peace and security. “We support their responsible development and use in accordance with international law, including international humanitarian law, and underscore the importance of ensuring that technological advancements contribute to international peace, stability and security,” he stressed.
Norway’s representative warned that advanced AI amplifies existing threats and creates new security risks. “Its effects extend from cyberoperations and biotechnology to nuclear decision-making and autonomous weapons systems”, she said. “Human judgement, control and accountability must remain at the centre of decisions that affect human life and international peace and security”, she underscored, adding that this must also guide the work on autonomous weapons systems.