Mr. President,
I address this conference on behalf of the Nordic countries – Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and my own country, Norway. Allow me to congratulate you on assuming the office of President of this Review Conference. Rest assured of our full support.
Mr. President,
The Nordic countries underline our unwavering support for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
For nearly sixty years, the NPT has enabled a significant reduction in nuclear weapons stockpiles and curtailed nuclear proliferation while serving as the framework for international cooperation on nuclear energy, science, and technology.
We strongly support all three pillars and full implementation of the Treaty. We call for
its universalisation and encourage all States that have not yet joined the Treaty to do
so as non-nuclear-weapon States.
We pledge our full support for the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency
which plays a vital role in promoting, sustaining, and strengthening the global nuclear
architecture. We also underscore the value of export control regimes, among them the
Nuclear Suppliers Group and the Zangger Committee.
We emphasize that nuclear science and technology can support the Sustainable Development Goals.. We express our appreciation to Finland for taking on the chairmanship of the Main Committee III.
Mr. President,
The NPT remains the only credible path to nuclear disarmament. It is of immense importance that we collectively send an unequivocal message of support for the treaty
as such.
And in today’s deteriorating security environment, the Treaty does indeed face notable challenges.
The Nordic countries condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia’s nuclear rhetoric and its threats to use nuclear force in its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.
Russia’s nuclear threats coupled with the pursuit of new nuclear capabilities
– possibly also in outer space - severely undermines global security and stability.
We also remain profoundly concerned about China’s nuclear build-up, already undertaken over several years. China continues to rapidly and significantly expand its
nuclear arsenal and does so in a non-transparent manner. We call on China to explain
how this fits with China’s NPT Article VI obligation to pursue disarmament in good faith and we encourage China to adopt meaningful measures of transparency, risk reduction and verifiable arms control. We also urge all states to adhere to the Hague Code of Conduct.
Furthermore, the expiration of the New START Treaty means that the world is without any restrictions on the number of nuclear weapons. This is an unfortunate and dangerous development but could potentially open the door for a new and stronger
framework. In any such possible framework, it is of great importance to include
measures to handle tactical nuclear weapons.
Against this backdrop, we urge Russia and China to engage in dialogue, confidence
building and transparency measures, including accepting the U.S. offer to engage in
nuclear arms control discussions without preconditions.
In addition, the world faces several serious nuclear proliferation challenges. The DPRK continues to develop its unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programmes in violation of multiple Security Council resolutions, and should return to compliance with the NPT.
Iran has not shown willingness to limit its capability to enrich uranium and reduce its
stockpiles, while refusing to cooperate fully with the IAEA, including to implement
all its safeguards obligations. It is imperative that Iran never acquires nuclear
weapons in line with its NPT obligations and we encourage efforts to ensure progress
on the creation of a zone free of nuclear weapons in the Middle East. We strongly call
for the pursuit of diplomatic efforts to achieve lasting and sustainable solutions.
Mr. President,
In challenging times, it is more important than ever to safeguard the nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control architecture. We stress the need to implement all obligations under the NPT, including commitments made during previous Review Conferences. In this regard, the Nordic countries are committed to advance nuclear disarmament based on the three interrelated principles of transparency, verification, and irreversibility.
In line with this, the Nordic countries underscore that the fundamental purpose of NATO, to which all Nordic countries belong, is to preserve peace, prevent coercion,
and deter aggression. NATO’s nuclear sharing arrangements are fully consistent with
the NPT and have been key in preventing proliferation, one of the NPT’s core goals.
Mr President,
The Nordic countries firmly support the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). We strongly urge all states, in particular the remaining Annex II States, to sign and ratify the CTBT, securing a legally binding moratorium on nuclear testing.
We also reaffirm our support for immediate negotiations and conclusion of a Fissile
Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT).
The Nordic countries fully share the goal of a more secure world without nuclear weapons. Let us remind ourselves that a nuclear war would visit devastation upon all humankind. We must make every effort to avert the danger of such a war, bearing in
mind that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.
Mr President,
The Nordic countries are strongly committed to a successful outcome of the Eleventh Review Conference.
Thank you for your attention.