UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged all countries possessing nuclear weapons to maintain existing moratoriums on nuclear testing and move towards a legally binding global ban on nuclear explosions.
Guterres made the appeal on Friday, warning that nuclear tests undermine international confidence, fuel an arms race and leave communities dealing with the consequences of past nuclear testing.
“Nuclear tests shatter trust, fuel a nuclear arms race & betray every community still living with the legacy of past nuclear tests,” Guterres wrote on X.
The UN chief called on countries to bring the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) into force. The multilateral agreement, adopted in 1996, seeks to prohibit all nuclear test explosions worldwide.
Guterres also urged nuclear-armed states to reaffirm their commitment to halting nuclear testing and maintaining existing pauses while efforts continue to establish a permanent international prohibition.
His remarks came after Russia announced the training launch of a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
The missile reportedly reached its designated target at the Kura training range in Russia’s Far East Kamchatka region.
Moscow said the launch was conducted to confirm the tactical, technical and flight characteristics of the missile system.
The Russian missile launch has renewed international attention on nuclear weapons and the importance of maintaining restrictions on nuclear testing.
The CTBT was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1996 with the aim of establishing a comprehensive and legally binding ban on nuclear test explosions. However, the treaty has not yet entered into full legal force because several key countries have not ratified it.
Under the treaty, its entry into force depends on ratification by all countries listed in Annex 2. These states possessed nuclear technology or nuclear research capabilities at the time the treaty was negotiated.
Nine Annex 2 countries have yet to complete the ratification process: the United States, Russia, China, Iran, Israel, Egypt, India, Pakistan and North Korea.
Despite the treaty remaining legally inactive, a large majority of countries have supported its objectives. As of 2026, 188 states have signed the CTBT while 179 have ratified it.
Guterres’ latest call comes amid continuing concerns over nuclear proliferation and the possibility of renewed nuclear testing. The UN has repeatedly advocated for disarmament and stronger international mechanisms to prevent the spread and development of nuclear weapons.
The secretary-general’s appeal seeks to maintain the long-standing global norm against nuclear testing while encouraging countries that have yet to ratify the CTBT to complete the process.
