STATEMENT BY CHEYENNE ONG, DELEGATE TO THE 79TH UNGA, PERMANENT MISSION OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS AT THE CLUSTER 1 THEMATIC DEBATE ON NUCLEAR WEAPONS OF THE 79TH UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY FIRST COMMITTEE, 18 OCTOBER 2024

Thank you, Madam Chair,

Singapore aligns itself with the statements delivered by Vietnam on behalf of ASEAN, and by Indonesia on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.

2 Many years ago, our predecessors laid the building blocks of our disarmament architecture with landmark agreements like the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Today, as we witness a rise in geopolitical rivalry and conflicts around the world, such gains appear impossible to replicate. But these historic agreements did not emerge during a period of peace and stability. As the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu said during the 2nd Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Review Conference of the NPT, disarmament is “not simply the outcome”, but a “prerequisite” that “helps to create international peace and security”. We must no longer wait for an elusive ‘right time’ to restart productive conversations about disarmament. In this regard, Singapore would like to surface three points.

3 First, agreements like the NPT are only as meaningful as the actions we take to implement them. All States Parties need to take concrete steps to fulfil our obligations under the NPT, which is the cornerstone of the international nuclear disarmament regime. The continued increase and modernisation of nuclear capabilities by Nuclear Weapon States (NWS) goes against Article VI of the NPT, and Singapore calls upon these states to practice accountability and transparency, avoiding all actions that contravene the objective and purpose of the NPT. States must recognise that tactical nuclear weapons which can be used to launch limited attacks are still nuclear weapons, and their increasing prominence in the arsenals of NWS runs counter to the spirit of the NPT.

4 Second, states who have not yet done so should sign and ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) without delay. We welcome the recent ratification of the CTBT by Papua New Guinea in March 2024, and urge the nine remaining Annex 2 states to demonstrate their respect for the international disarmament regime, and solidarity with the international community, by joining the 178 others who have already ratified the CTBT. We also call for the commencement of long-overdue negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty under the Conference on Disarmament.

5 Third, we affirm our commitment to the creation and maintenance of nuclear-weapon-free zones. Such zones send the clear signal that the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons in the region is categorically unacceptable and contribute to the fulfilment of Article VII of the NPT. Singapore reiterates our commitment to the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ). We will continue to work closely with NWS to address their outstanding concerns regarding the SEANWFZ Protocol, and look forward to their signing and ratification of the Protocol without reservations. We also urge constructive dialogue on the establishment of a NWFZ in the Middle East, including through the Fourth Session of the Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction.

6 Finally, we call upon states to commit resources to nuclear safety and civilian nuclear technology. Singapore believes that every state has the right to the safe and peaceful use of nuclear technology, particularly for economic and social development. We encourage states to work closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which helps establish trust and oversight in verifying that non-NWS abide by their NPT obligations, and in making access to civilian nuclear technology more inclusive and equitable. Singapore is proud to have set up our first ever IAEA Collaborating Centre in Singapore in 2023, exploring applications in materials science, radiobiology, green technology and others. 

Madam Chair,

7 In conclusion, Singapore will continue to do our part to encourage meaningful action on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, broker consensus, and join fellow Member States in taking concrete and constructive steps towards a safer world for all.

8 Thank you

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