Guterresh: The world is going through the most dangerous nuclear moment
Amman2 min read
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The United Nations General Assembly held a high-level meeting today, Tuesday, to commemorate the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, with the aim of raising awareness of the threat posed by nuclear weapons and contributing to mobilizing efforts to achieve the common goal of establishing a world free of such weapons.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a speech at the meeting that the world is going through the "most dangerous nuclear moment since the end of the Cold War," pointing to the expansion and modernization of nuclear arsenals, the escalation of nuclear capabilities, and the increasing likelihood of errors due to technological developments.
Guterres expressed concern over the expiration of the New START Treaty (the New Treaty on the Reduction of Strategic Weapons) and the failure of the Eleventh Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to reach an agreement on a substantive outcome, adding "At a time when they are needed more than ever, the safeguards that have been built over decades to contain these risks are collapsing."
He added that the UN Disarmament Commission once again ended its three-year session without reaching substantive recommendations, stressing that "These are not just diplomatic disappointments, but warning signs," and warned that "The escalation of risks and the collapse of preventive controls is a one-way road to disaster"
He said that humanity has lived under the shadow of nuclear weapons for more than eight decades, urging countries to "Choose a future free of nuclear weapons"
For his part, General Assembly President Khalil Rahman said that the global stockpile has reached more than 12,000 nuclear warheads, compared to a peak of about 70,000 nuclear warheads in 1986.
Khalil Rahman stressed that "What is particularly worrying is that between 2,100 and 2,200 nuclear warheads are on high operational alert on ballistic missiles, and are capable of being launched within a very short time frame," adding, "For the first time since the end of the Cold War, the global nuclear stockpile is expected to grow again, as new and more advanced nuclear warheads enter arsenals at a faster pace than the decommissioning of retired warheads"
He pointed out that since February 5, 2026, the New START Treaty has expired without a replacement treaty, saying: "For the first time since 1972, there are no binding limits on strategic nuclear arsenals"
