GENEVA — After four weeks of tense discussions and lowered expectations, United Nations talks on nuclear nonproliferation ended without agreement on May 22, raising fresh concerns about the future of global arms control.
The conference, led by Vietnam’s Do Hung Viet, aimed to review the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), a cornerstone agreement designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and promote disarmament, according to Hurriyet Daily News. But in the end, negotiators failed to find common ground.
“Despite our best efforts… the conference is not in a position to achieve agreement,” Viet said, confirming that no final document would be adopted.
The failure marks the third consecutive time after 2015 and 2022 that member states have been unable to reach consensus. While the treaty itself remains in force, experts warn its credibility is weakening.
Throughout the talks, diplomats struggled over a draft text that grew increasingly diluted. Sensitive issues were softened or removed altogether in an attempt to bridge divisions.
A reference stating that Iran must “never” develop nuclear weapons remained unresolved, reflecting ongoing disagreements. Stronger language about Iran’s compliance was dropped, as were concerns about North Korea’s nuclear program and calls for denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.
The text also avoided direct pressure on the United States and Russia to begin new arms control negotiations following the expiration of the New START treaty earlier this year.
Still, the draft acknowledged growing global risks, including the expansion of nuclear arsenals, the threat of renewed nuclear testing, and potential attacks on nuclear facilities.
Analysts say these omissions highlight deep divisions between nuclear armed states and other countries pushing for disarmament. According to recent estimates, nine countries possess more than 12,000 nuclear warheads, with the vast majority held by the United States and Russia.
While many nations say they remain committed to reducing nuclear threats, critics argue that key powers are modernizing and even expanding their arsenals.
For now, the NPT survives but with its authority increasingly under strain in a world facing renewed geopolitical tensions.
