Philippines Reaffirms Commitment to Global Nuclear Disarmament Amid Rising Geopolitical Tensions

The Philippines has reiterated its unwavering support for international efforts aimed at achieving a world free of nuclear weapons, emphasizing that there is no tolerance for reversing progress despite current geopolitical challenges.

In a statement delivered at the Ministerial Meeting of the Friends of the Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT) during the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro reaffirmed the nation’s firm stance against nuclear weapons.

Secretary Lazaro declared, "Nothing could ever justify the use of nuclear weapons, and they have no place in a peaceful world."

However, she expressed concern that outdated security doctrines rooted in nuclear deterrence persistently influence the policies of many countries. She highlighted alarming developments in the Asia-Pacific, where nuclear arsenals are rapidly expanding, contravening the spirit of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and undermining decades of fragile disarmament progress.

"The threat posed by nuclear weapons exacerbates strategic rivalries and prolonged conflicts across Europe, the Middle East, South and East Asia," Lazaro observed.

She called for the steadfast adherence to existing nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation obligations, stressing that the current geopolitical complexities necessitate intensified collective action. "There is no room for backsliding," she asserted.

Secretary Lazaro also urged the prompt conclusion and implementation of a multilateral, non-discriminatory, and effectively verifiable FMCT, describing it as both critical and urgent. Such a treaty would restrict the production and facilitate the dismantling of fissile material to prevent further nuclear weapons proliferation.

The Philippines remains a consistent supporter of UN General Assembly resolutions advocating for the FMCT and encouraged global leaders to bolster the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva to accelerate meaningful treaty negotiations.

"We encourage states to demonstrate their resolve by imposing unilateral moratoria on the establishment of additional uranium enrichment and plutonium separation facilities for military use," Lazaro added.

She noted that the FMCT is instrumental in advancing a durable framework for arms control and complements major treaties, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Concluding her remarks, Lazaro emphasized, "The pursuit of complete, irreversible, and verifiable nuclear disarmament is a responsibility we must fulfill for the sake of future generations."