Intensive UN-led talks over four consecutive weeks ended in deadlock, with member states failing to reach a final agreement to review and reaffirm the goals of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and disarmament. This failure, which came amid low expectations, reflects the deep divisions within the current global order.
Historical context and importance of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which entered into force in 1970, is the cornerstone of the international community’s efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, with its ultimate goal of complete nuclear disarmament. Review conferences are held every five years to assess progress, but this failure marks the third consecutive failure, following the collapse of the 2015 and 2022 conferences, raising serious questions about the treaty’s future and effectiveness in light of current geopolitical tensions. Despite the absence of a final document, experts maintain that the treaty remains legally binding, but its political legitimacy is gradually eroding.
Details of the failure within the corridors of the United Nations
Vietnamese Ambassador Do Hong Viet, chair of the conference, articulated the general disappointment, stating, “Despite our best efforts, I realized that the conference was not in a position to reach an agreement on its substantive work.” He added that he did not intend to submit the final document for adoption due to the lack of consensus. This failure leaves the world facing a dangerous diplomatic vacuum, especially given the growing fears of a new, unchecked nuclear arms race.
Regional tensions: Iran and North Korea
Richard Gowan, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, noted that the proposed texts had become “less relevant to the realities of current conflicts and the risk of nuclear proliferation,” particularly concerning North Korea and Iran. The latest draft, seen by news agencies, showed a softening of tone, merely stating that Tehran must “never” develop nuclear weapons, while omitting any explicit reference to Iran’s “non-compliance” with its previous commitments. The text also lacked any expression of deep concern about North Korea’s accelerating nuclear program or any explicit call for the “denuclearization” of the Korean Peninsula, reflecting diplomatic concessions made to avoid failure, which ultimately proved insufficient.
The arms race and the collapse of bilateral treaties
One of the most notable omissions from the final draft was a direct call for the United States and Russia to resume negotiations on a new treaty to replace New START, the only remaining bilateral agreement limiting the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals. In this context, Seth Sheldon of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) criticized the situation, stating that “a small handful of nuclear-armed states, and some of their allies, are undermining the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and thwarting disarmament efforts, leading the world toward disaster.”.
Map of the world's nuclear arsenal
According to 2025 data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the nine nuclear-armed states (Russia, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, China, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea) possess approximately 12,241 nuclear warheads. Washington and Moscow alone control roughly 90% of this global arsenal and have implemented massive modernization programs in recent years, further complicating the global security landscape and making the need for international consensus more urgent than ever.
