Spain hosted the 4th meeting of the Stockholm Initiative for Nuclear Disarmament in Madrid on Monday, which saw the participation of 16 nations invited by the Foreign Affairs Minister of Spain, Arancha González Laya, and her Swedish and German counterparts Ann Linde and Heiko Maas.
The virtual meeting, held in a hybrid format, was attended by Spain, Germany, Sweden, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Argentina, Canada, South Korea, Ethiopia, Finland, Indonesia, Japan, Norway, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. In a tweet, Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “This meeting aims to ensure the success of the 10th Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, postponed because of the pandemic, to renew the political commitment to nuclear disarmament.”
A press release mentioned that the meeting aimed to “review the current international system for nuclear disarmament and the NPT and identify the challenges and opportunities.” In addition, the ministers agreed to review the actions conducted through the Stockholm Initiative and evaluate their progress in this regard. Furthermore, they prioritised the NPT and discussed new strategies and targets to reduce nuclear arsenals. At the meeting, the representatives of all 16 nations welcomed Russia and the United States’ (US) announcement on the extension of the START nuclear disarmament treaty by another five years.
As per news reports, representatives also urged the nine nuclear-armed states to meet the obligations laid down by the NPT and “promote disarmament by adopting significant measures.” Europe Press stated that the foreign ministries of Spain, Germany and Sweden reaffirmed their commitment to Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban’s resurgence.
Furthermore, Japan’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Washio Eiichir, discussed the existing challenges in the disarmament sector and emphasised the need to take concrete steps to address the existing security threats and the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons. Additionally, the Minister suggested outreach activities for strengthening ties with other countries and also reiterated Japan’s concern over the development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles by North Korea.
Germany’s Foreign Minister, Heiko Maas, said: “A path back on track to nuclear disarmament is possible. But above all, it is also urgently needed.” Similarly, New Zealand Minister, Phil Twyford, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to nuclear disarmament and the NPT, saying, “It is crucial to prioritise greater advocacy particularly with the nuclear weapons states ahead of the NPT Review Conference later this year.”
The Stockholm Initiative was introduced in 2019 to realise a world free of nuclear weapons by strengthening the NPT and promoting nuclear disarmament. During the meeting in Berlin last year, the Initiative proposed 22 “Stepping Stones” to enhance nuclear disarmament efforts. The ministers are hoping that the objectives of the latest meeting will provide a roadmap for the future that focuses on joint efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons.
Spain Hosts Stockholm Initiative Meeting on Nuclear Disarmament With Multiple World Powers
The representatives of 16 countries pledged to reduce nuclear arsenals and discussed the Non-Proliferation Treaty at the 4th meeting of the Stockholm Initiative, hosted by Spain in Madrid.
July 6, 2021
SOURCE: TWITTER