NPT: Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

Mr Chair,
The following statement is delivered on behalf of the members of the Stockholm  initiative for Nuclear Disarmament: Argentina, Canada, Ethiopia, Finland, Germany, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and my own country Norway.

The Stockholm Initiative is a diverse cross-regional coalition of engaged non-nuclear-weapon States. We share an unwavering commitment to the NPT and the ultimate goal of a world free of nuclear weapons.

The Stockholm Initiative remains steadfast in its ambition to making this NPT Review Conference successful. We underline that existing  NPT commitments remain valid. NPT commitments must be implemented, and obligations must be met. While our Initiative focuses on disarmament, we reaffirm the mutually reinforcing nature of all three pillars of the NPT: disarmament, non-proliferation, and peaceful uses of nuclear energy and technology.

Despite national specificities and differences in security policies and priorities, the members of the Stockholm Initiative have joined forces to find ways to advance nuclear disarmament with an ambitious but realistic approach. We remain dedicated to  promoting broad dialogue, building bridges and mitigating polarisation, with the aim to strengthen the non-proliferation and disarmament regime.

Mr Chair,
Since its establishment in 2019, the Stockholm Initiative has presented proposals to help reduce international tension, improve global security, foster confidence among states and strengthen the NPT.

Allow me to recall our working papers during the previous Review Cycle: "Stepping  Stones for Advancing Nuclear Disarmament and "A Nuclear Risk Reduction Package". The proposals contained therein remain valid and essential.

During the current Review Cycle, the Stockholm Initiative has presented its proposals in three different working papers: “Stepping up efforts: towards a successful review cycle” in 2024, and “Steps to strengthen negative security assurances” as well as “Navigating the potential impact of emerging technologies” in 2025.

In the first of these working papers, “Stepping up efforts: towards a successful review cycle”, the Stockholm Initiative highlighted several crucial issues for the implementation of the NPT. They include starting negotiations on an FMCT, the urgent need to ratify and bring into force the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, engaging in dialogue on humanitarian consequences of nuclear war, as well as the need for increased  transparency and accountability by the nuclear-weapon States.

In the working paper “Steps to strengthen negative security assurances”, we provided practical recommendations to reaffirm and strengthen security assurances from  nuclear-weapon states, including exploring effective international arrangements, as well as to reinforce overall confidence in the global non-proliferation regime.

The Working Paper “Navigating the potential impact of emerging technologies” stresses the importance of a better understanding of the impact of emerging technologies and of taking meaningful steps to reduce associated risks, as well as harnessing the opportunities for a more effective and efficient non-proliferation and disarmament regime.

Mr Chair,
The Stockholm Initiative is convinced that the engagement of the younger generations is vital to the success of disarmament efforts. Moreover, we reiterate our commitment to promoting the meaningful and effective participation and leadership of women in nuclear disarmament.

Finally, we invite all NPT States Parties to study our working papers and the proposals therein, and we welcome further discussions on how to achieve further progress on nuclear disarmament.

Thank you Mr. Chair.