New York, 01 May

The State of Qatar renewed its commitment to working towards a Middle East free of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction, stressing that the total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only guarantee against their use or the threat of their use.

Mr. Saud Misfer Al-Shahwani, a member of the delegation of the State of Qatar participating in the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, affirmed in the State of Qatar’s statement before the First Committee on Disarmament at the United Nations Headquarters in New York that nuclear disarmament, as one of the three pillars of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, represents the fundamental step within the framework of international efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons and dispose of the stockpiles and remnants of such weapons. He considered that Article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons constitutes a clear legal obligation on nuclear-weapon States to pursue in good faith serious negotiations leading to complete nuclear disarmament.

He pointed out that any delay in the implementation of these commitments undermines the credibility of the international system, and that the total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only guarantee against their use or the threat of their use, stressing that the continued existence of military nuclear capabilities outside any international framework for verification or accountability undermines trust, fuels arms races, and creates a fragile and escalation-prone security environment.

He noted that, in this context, there has been a call to adopt a gradual and verifiable approach based on achieving regular and measurable reductions in nuclear arsenals, enhancing transparency regarding nuclear military doctrines and levels of readiness, and expanding confidence-building measures in a manner that reduces the risks of accidental or unintended use of nuclear weapons. He explained that these steps not only serve the objective of nuclear disarmament, but also contribute to reducing strategic tensions at the global level, thereby enhancing international stability, which is positively reflected in regional and international peace and security, and that the pillar of nuclear disarmament is not merely a technical or legal matter, but rather a strategic choice that reflects the extent of the international community’s commitment to human security and to the future of coming generations.

Mr. Saud Misfer Al-Shahwani concluded, in the State of Qatar’s statement, by stressing that the Middle East, given the protracted security challenges it faces, deserves to be at the forefront of this global path, noting that the full commitment has been renewed to work with the countries of the region and with the international community in order to move forward towards a Middle East free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, based on collective security, mutual respect, and sustainable development.