Canada's statement to the First Committee of the 79th session of the United Nations, Thematic Debate: Nuclear Weapons

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New York, USA, October 18, 2024

Chair,

Yet another year passes without progress on nuclear disarmament, against the backdrop of a deteriorating international security environment. While the need to address this critical threat to humanity remains as urgent as ever, reducing the number of nuclear weapons and addressing the threats posed by the alarming sophistication of their delivery systems is becoming increasingly challenging.

The trends are disturbing. China continues to opaquely expand its nuclear arsenal and avoid transparency by citing its No First Use policy. We call on China to be transparent about its nuclear arsenal and doctrine and to engage in nuclear arms control, disarmament, and risk reduction talks. Russia persists in issuing reckless nuclear threats amid its unjustifiable war against Ukraine and endangers the region with its attacks on and around civilian nuclear infrastructure. We call on Russia to end its aggression against Ukraine, to return control of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to Ukraine, to return to compliance with the New START, and to negotiate a follow-up treaty with the United States. We are concerned by Iran inching closer to nuclear weapons-capability and urge Iran to comply with its NPT and comprehensive nuclear safeguards obligations in full cooperation with the IAEA. We condemn the DPRK’s expansion of both its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, threatening regional stability. We urge the DPRK to comply with the NPT and to become a party to the CTBT.

Chair,

After 40 years of global progress in reducing nuclear warhead numbers, we now face an alarming reversal. The catastrophic humanitarian and environmental consequences of nuclear weapons use highlight the urgent need to maintain a strong and effective NPT. Canada remains committed to fully implementing the NPT’s three equally important, interdependent, and mutually reinforcing pillars.

Canada is advancing concrete transparency initiatives, because transparency builds trust, facilitates accountability in implementing the NPT’s obligations, and strengthens the Review Process. Canada submitted its national NPT implementation report this year, following the template recommended by the NPDI.  We urge all States Parties, especially the nuclear-weapon States, to adopt this reporting template and submit their reports regularly—particularly ahead of the upcoming Review Conference. 

Canada is also promoting transparency by partnering with the Netherlands to fund the development of an independent and comprehensive NPT Monitor and Nuclear Transparency Index.  Non-nuclear weapon States regularly demonstrate transparency through their cooperation with the IAEA, underpinned by their legal obligations. Likewise, nuclear-weapon States have a responsibility to report on how they are fulfilling their obligations under the Treaty.  We appreciate the efforts of some nuclear-weapon States to increase transparency regarding their doctrines and nuclear arsenals, and we urge others to follow suit.

In the face of current headwinds, we must keep focused on practical, concrete steps that can move us forward. Negotiating a treaty to address fissile material for nuclear weapons is one such step. We call on states that possess or produce fissile material for nuclear weapons to commence the long-overdue negotiations. To advance this goal, they should uphold or declare moratoriums on fissile material production, and either initiate or continue transparency and confidence-building measures among themselves.

The CTBT remains central to stop the spread of nuclear weapons and to irreversibly eliminate existing stockpiles. However, the CTBT needs to enter into force to reach its full potential. Canada is providing significant support to the CTBTO, in anticipation of entry into force, most recently contributing over $1.7 million to support the June 2025 Integrated Field Exercise for On-Site Inspections in Sri Lanka. Once again, we call on Annex II countries to complete their ratification of the treaty. We also commend Papua New Guinea for taking this crucial step in March of this year.  While we await the treaty’s entry into force, we urge all states to refrain from actions that would undermine its object and purpose. This means maintaining voluntary moratoria on nuclear testing, now a critical de facto international norm.

Chair,

In today’s challenging international security environment, it is imperative that we work together on identifying and achieving practical steps to advance nuclear arms control and disarmament. Canada will cooperate and work with all UN Members States committed to building a safer, more secure world free from nuclear threats.

Thank you.