Marc Finaud, an associate researcher at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, asserts, “We have never been closer to a nuclear war.” Following the invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently threatened the use of nuclear weapons. Recently, the Russian military announced the start of tactical nuclear weapon exercises near the Ukrainian border, a move in response to the possible deployment of NATO forces in Ukraine.
In this tense geopolitical climate, the Conference on Disarmament (CD) resumed its activities at the United Nations in Geneva for its second session of the year, running from May 13 to June 21. Since its establishment in 1979, this multilateral forum has been in a stalemate, with its last significant agreement being the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 1996.
In this tense geopolitical climate, the Conference on Disarmament (CD) resumed its activities at the United Nations in Geneva for its second session of the year, running from May 13 to June 21. Since its establishment in 1979, this multilateral forum has been in a stalemate, with its last significant agreement being the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 1996.
Marc Finaud observes that “Nuclear states are obstructing any progress in disarmament by misusing the consensus rule as a form of veto power, even to approve the work program.” Consequently, since the beginning of the 21st century, the Conference on Disarmament has made no significant strides toward nuclear abolition.