Nuclear Disarmament Is the First Step for Peace, Says UN Chief | Security Council | United Nations

Briefing by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, during the Security Council, 9579th meeting.

 UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “Humanity cannot survive a sequel to Oppenheimer.” 

Addressing the Security Council today (18 Mar) on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, Guterres said, “Voice after voice, alarm after alarm, survivor after survivor, are calling the world back from the brink. And what is the response? States possessing nuclear weapons are absent from the table of dialogue.” 

He also said, “There is one path — and one path only — that will vanquish this senseless and suicidal shadow, once and for all. We need disarmament now.” Guterres stated, “Nuclear weapon States must urgently agree that none of them will be the first to use nuclear weapons. 

As a matter of fact, none should use them in any circumstances.” According to the UN Secretary-General, “we need reductions in the number of nuclear weapons. This reduction must be led by the holders of the largest nuclear arsenals, the United States and the Russian Federation, who must find a way back to the negotiating table to fully implement the New START Treaty and agree on its successor.”