STATEMENT BY MS BERENICE LOW, FIRST SECRETARY (POLITICAL), PERMANENT MISSION OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS AT THE 2024 SESSION OF THE DISARMAMENT COMMISSION, 1 APRIL 2024

Thank you Mr Chairman.

1 My delegation congratulates you on your election as Chair of the United Nations Disarmament Commission (UNDC). We also congratulate Mr Akaki Dvali of Georgia and Ms Julie Rodriguez of El Salvador on their election as Chairs of the Working Group on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and Working Group on emerging technologies in the context of international security respectively. Singapore assures you of our full support and cooperation in this process.

2 Singapore aligns itself with the statements delivered by Indonesia on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, and by the Philippines on behalf of ASEAN. We would like to add the following comments in our national capacity.

3 We reaffirm the role of the UNDC as the sole, specialised, deliberative body to consider and make recommendations on disarmament issues. We were particularly encouraged that Working Group II of the last UNDC cycle achieved consensus on recommendations to promote the practical implementation of transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities with the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space, and urge all Member States to implement those recommendations. We welcome the convening of this new three-year cycle of the UNDC as an opportunity for Member States to continue inclusive and constructive dialogue, and propose concrete recommendations for disarmament. An inclusive, open and multilateral approach is essential to address the issues of nuclear disarmament and the impact of emerging technologies on international security, particularly given the transnational nature of these issues.

4 Against the backdrop of a divided and deteriorating international security environment, Singapore reiterates our full commitment to the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime, towards the ultimate goal of a world free of nuclear weapons. We should use this opportunity for free-flowing dialogue to seek convergence on how to address current and future challenges. I would like to make three suggestions on how we can take concrete steps forward.

5 First, we must uphold and strengthen our commitment to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which is the cornerstone of the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. We reiterate our disappointment at the failure of the Tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the NPT in 2022 to adopt a final document, the second consecutive time the NPT Review Conference failed to do so, as well as regret the lack of substantive progress at the First Session of the Preparatory Committee for the Eleventh NPT Review Conference in 2023. As the UN Secretary-General noted at a UN Security Council briefing on 18 March, geopolitical tensions and mistrust have escalated the risk of nuclear warfare to its highest point in decades. To protect our hard-won gains on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and to avoid a nuclear catastrophe, we must overcome the divisions and mistrust between Nuclear Weapon States and non-Nuclear Weapon States, as well as among Nuclear Weapon States. We therefore urge all Member States to show strong political will and make a collective effort to fulfil their commitments to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation within a specified and reasonable timeframe. We hope that discussions at the Second NPT Preparatory Committee from July to August this year will bear fruit in this regard. We also call on countries outside the ambit of the NPT to join, or rejoin, the NPT to strengthen the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime.

6 Second, we must redouble our efforts towards the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). We regret the decision by the Russian Federation to revoke its ratification of the CTBT, and emphasise that States should refrain from actions that go against the objective and purpose of the Treaty, pending the CTBT’s entry into force. However, we are encouraged by the two Member States who ratified the CTBT in 2023 and urge all countries, particularly the remaining Annex II States, to ratify it as soon as possible.

7 Third, nuclear weapon-free zones remain useful building blocks towards a world free of nuclear weapons. Singapore will continue to work closely with our ASEAN partners and the Nuclear Weapon States to resolve outstanding issues in accordance with the objective and principles of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty, for the Nuclear Weapon States’ signing and ratification of the Protocol to the SEANWFZ Treaty without reservations. Singapore is also pleased to announce that we will be participating in a peer review on the implementation of UNSC resolution 1540 (2004) with Palau and the Philippines in May to improve the implementation of this crucial non-proliferation resolution in the region.

Mr Chairman,

8 Singapore also welcomes the UNDC’s decision to discuss “recommendations on common understandings related to emerging technologies in the context of international security” under its Working Group II. There has been an increasing interest at the UN on frontier issues like emerging technologies. The inclusive nature of the UNDC makes it an appropriate platform for Member States to reach common understandings relating to emerging technologies and their impact on international peace and security. Even though Singapore is a small country, we have been active in discussions on emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence. For example, Singapore co-hosted with the Netherlands and the Republic of Korea the Responsible AI in the Military Domain Regional Consultations for Asia in February 2024. We hope that the briefings and exchange of views in Working Group II will contribute to confidence-building among Member States. That said, we emphasise the need to avoid duplicating existing discussions and processes in other disarmament fora in New York or Geneva.

9 In conclusion, Singapore looks forward to engaging constructively with other Member States over the next few weeks to address the critical issues of nuclear weapons and emerging technologies in the context of international security. Thank you.

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