STATEMENT BY BRANDON LIM, FIRST SECRETARY AT THE GENERAL DEBATE OF THE 80th UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY FIRST COMMITTEE, 8 OCTOBER 2025

Thank you, Mr Chair.

Let me extend my delegation’s congratulations to you and the members of the Bureau on your election. Singapore assures you of our full support for a productive session. We align ourselves with the statements delivered by Uganda on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, and by Malaysia on behalf of ASEAN. Please allow me to make the following four points from Singapore’s perspective.

Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation

2                    First, Singapore reaffirms our strong and consistent commitment to the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. The multilateral nuclear non-proliferation architecture has been under increasing stress against the backdrop of a deteriorating international security environment. We are disappointed by the lack of progress in the implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which remains the cornerstone of the global disarmament and non-proliferation regime. The absence of a consensus document and agreement on substantive recommendations again at this year’s NPT Preparatory Committee unfortunately means that arriving at a meaningful outcome at the 2026 Review Conference will be an uphill task. We therefore urge all States Parties to demonstrate genuine political will to work towards tangible outcomes for next year’s Review Conference. As we have stressed in previous disarmament fora, the NPT is only as meaningful as the actions we take to implement them.

3                    The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is another vital element in the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation architecture. It is striking that prior to the adoption of the CTBT by the General Assembly in 1996, there were over 2,000 nuclear weapon tests, while this number has decreased to only 10 since the CTBT was opened for signature. The value of the CTBT is clear and its entry into force is long overdue. Singapore calls on all remaining Member States that have yet to sign and ratify the CTBT, particularly the Annex 2 countries, to bring it into force.

4                    Singapore supports regional efforts to establish Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones as concrete steps to achieve a nuclear-weapons-free world. In our region, Singapore is committed to the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ). We will continue to explore the possibility of allowing individual Nuclear Weapon States (NWS) that are willing to sign and ratify the Protocol to the SEANWFZ Treaty without reservations and provide written formal assurance of this commitment, to go ahead with the signing. ASEAN will table the biennial resolution on the Treaty at this session of the General Assembly, and reaffirms our commitment to continuously engage all NWS, including those with reservations, and intensify efforts of all parties to resolve all outstanding issues in accordance with the objectives and principles of the SEANWFZ Treaty.

5                    Singapore also acknowledges the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) indispensable role in strengthening nuclear safety, security and safeguards. We remain committed to working closely with the IAEA in the fulfilment of its mandate. In July 2025, we announced the renewal of our Third Country Training Programme Memorandum of Understanding with the IAEA, which enables Singapore to continue providing capacity building and training for third countries through the hosting of fellowships, scientific visits and training courses, in areas such as human health, food and agriculture, environmental monitoring, and nuclear and radiation safety. 

 Cyberspace

6                    Second, as the cyber landscape evolves, it is in our collective interest to ensure that cyberspace remains open, secure, stable, accessible, peaceful and interoperable.  Cyberspace is not a lawless domain but one that is governed by international law, the principles of the UN Charter as well as rules, norms and principles for responsible state behaviour. The UN has played a paramount role in establishing the framework for responsible state behaviour in the use of information and communication technologies that includes 11 voluntary, non-binding norms. This, in tandem with international law, Confidence Building Measures, and capacity-building, strengthen States’ ability to collectively address threats in cyberspace. In this regard, Singapore is happy to build on this work at the UN, including by convening the annual Singapore International Cyber Week each October, and partnering with UNODA to offer the UN-Singapore Cyber Fellowship Programme.

7                    Singapore is also honoured to have contributed to the UN’s work through our Chairmanship of the UN Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on Security of and in the Use of Information and Communications Technologies 2021-2025. We are very encouraged by the consensus adoption of the OEWG’s Final Report in July 2025 and by the agreement by all States to establish a permanent UN Global Mechanism to continue work on this issue. In its capacity as the Chair of the OEWG, Singapore will table a draft resolution in the First Committee to endorse this consensus outcome that will lead to the formal establishment of the UN Global Mechanism. We urge all delegations to support our resolution and to join consensus in the First Committee. We look forward to working with all Member States to contribute to the work of the UN Global Mechanism.

Outer Space

8                    Third, Singapore supports the peaceful uses of outer space and reiterates the centrality of international law in governing all activities in the exploration and use of outer space. As space becomes an increasingly contested domain, the risks of misunderstanding, miscalculation or unintended escalation have increased. As such, an open and inclusive international framework is crucial to ensure that outer space can be preserved as a peaceful global commons for all. We are therefore encouraged by UNGA decision 79/512 that convened the OEWG on the Prevention of an Arms Race in all its aspects. We are pleased to note the substantive discussions during the recent OEWG session and look forward to working with all delegations to make meaningful progress at future substantive sessions of the OEWG.

Artificial Intelligence

9                    Fourth, Singapore is cognisant of the need to work towards a global consensus on the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the military domain. AI presents many opportunities in the military domain, but its rapid development often outpace efforts by the international community to govern such capabilities. Guardrails, established through multistakeholder and inclusive discussions, are thus imperative to mitigate the risks of misunderstanding and escalation. We look forward to productive discussions within the First Committee on the resolution proposed by the Netherlands and the Republic of Korea titled “Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain and its Implications for International Peace and Security”, of which we are a Core Group member. We hope that these discussions will continue to complement existing multilateral platforms such as the Responsible AI in the Military Domain process.

Conclusion

Mr Chair,

10                To conclude, Singapore looks forward to working constructively with you and all Member States to achieve a successful outcome at this year’s First Committee. Thank you.