New york: The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) has underscored the need for a collective approach to tackle nuclear testing and prevent future tests. This is contained in a joint statement by Mr. Phil©mon Yang, President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), and Dr. Robert Floyd, Executive Secretary of the CTBTO, during the UNGA’s seventy-ninth session.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the theme of the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and the first nuclear weapon test is ‘Trinity to Today: Turning the Page on Nuclear Testing.’ The UNGA declared August 29 as the International Day Against Nuclear Tests to mark the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site in Kazakhstan on that date in 1991. They noted that 456 nuclear test explosions occurred over four decades, highlighting two historic developments in 1945 that reshaped global diplomacy.
The UNGA and CTBTO officials stated that the establishment of the United Nations in October 1945, following the signing of its Charter in June, and the first-ever nuclear test explosion, known as Trinity, conducted in New Mexico on July 16, 1945, were pivotal moments. They emphasized that this day serves as a reminder that nuclear testing must become a relic of the past and urged global action to bring the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) into force.
The officials warned that a return to nuclear testing would likely incite a dangerous arms race, undermining the United Nations’ founding purposes. They stressed that the arms race would threaten communities, nations, ecosystems, and the planet itself. Looking ahead, they noted two upcoming milestones: if no nuclear test occurs by January 14, 2026, it will be the longest period without nuclear testing since 1945, and September 24, 2026, will mark the 30th anniversary of the CTBT’s opening for signature.
They highlighted progress over the past eight decades, demonstrating that change is possible when the international community unites around transparent and principled policies. The officials called for meeting this moment with realism and hope, emphasizing that a safer world is within reach through collective action.
The statement also reflected on the harrowing consequences of nuclear warfare, as seen in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and underscored the UN’s responsibility to address the threat of nuclear annihilation. The first UNGA Resolution in 1946 called for eliminating nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction.
The officials expressed concern over the alarming scale of nuclear weapons testing, noting that between 1945 and 1996, over 2,000 nuclear tests were conducted globally, averaging at least one test every nine days. They highlighted the persistent radioactive fallout, environmental harm, and health impacts from nuclear detonations, stressing that this should not continue.
Finally, they noted that the opening for signature of the CTBT in 1996 was a crucial step forward, with 187 nation-states signing the Treaty and 178 ratifying it. Nine states have ratified and one has signed in the past three years, signaling progress in global efforts to end nuclear testing.