Signatories to the landmark nuclear non-proliferation treaty gathered at United Nations headquarters amid mounting fears of a renewed global arms race. The Secretary-General warned that the forces driving nuclear proliferation are accelerating, cautioning that trust in the treaty is eroding as commitments go unfulfilled and geopolitical tensions deepen.

The United States and Russia together possess nearly ninety percent of the world’s nuclear weapons and have recently undertaken major modernization programs. China has also rapidly expanded its arsenal, while France announced plans to increase its stockpile. In total, nine nuclear-armed states held more than twelve thousand warheads as of early 2025, raising concerns about a looming arms race.

Diplomats expressed tempered expectations for the four-week conference, noting that past meetings failed to reach consensus. Disputes over conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as concerns about the nuclear programs of Iran and North Korea, threaten to derail progress once again. Some countries have also raised alarms over the potential role of artificial intelligence in nuclear weapons systems.

Participants warned that the outcome of the conference could have far-reaching consequences, with the credibility of the global non-proliferation framework hanging in the balance.