Former UNGA presidents warn that unilateralism fuels nuclear arms race
A group of former UN General Assembly presidents cautioned that rising unilateralism is eroding multilateral arms-control and increasing the risk of nuclear conflict.
In a communiqué released on Sunday, the Council of Presidents of the UN General Assembly warned that unilateralism is supplanting multilateralism, resulting in a lack of enforceable nuclear-arms-control agreements among the world’s leading nuclear powers. They cited the absence of verifiable treaties and the continuation of a large-scale nuclear arms race, pointing to bilateral pacts such as the United States-Saudi Arabia deal brokered at the IAEA and persistent threats from North Korea.
The statement stressed that rapid AI-assisted weapons development, open discourse on tactical nuclear use, and the erosion of established deterrence doctrines amplify the risk of nuclear war. The council urged the UN Secretary-General António Guterres to act swiftly, including prompting the Security Council’s attention, and called for an international conference under UN auspices. It also expressed deep concern over the wars in Europe and the Middle East, linking them to broader humanitarian and economic crises, and requested urgent UN meetings on AI governance and a special briefing for member states.
