STATEMENT BY FIRST SECRETARY (POLITICAL) BRANDON LIM, AT THE THEMATIC DEBATE ON CLUSTER ONE: NUCLEAR WEAPONS OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE, 81ST SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 16 OCTOBER 2026

Thank you, Mr Chair. 

       Singapore aligns itself with the statement delivered by Vietnam on behalf of ASEAN.   

2     There can be no doubt that the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime is under severe strain. The risk of nuclear conflict is heightened, geopolitical divisions are deepening, and meaningful progress remains elusive. The failure of three consecutive NPT Review Conferences to adopt substantive outcomes, including the most recent 11^th NPT RevCon, illustrates these challenges. However, this must strengthen our resolve to ensure that the collective progress made over the years does not unravel further. Singapore would like to emphasise four points in our national capacity.

3      First, we must resume making progress on nuclear disarmament. The NPT remains indispensable to international peace and security, and its commitments must be matched by action. Nuclear Weapon States (NWS) must fulfil their obligations under Article VI of the NPT, including through transparent, irreversible and verifiable reductions of their nuclear arsenals. The expiry of the New START Treaty in February 2026 further underscored the fragility of the nuclear arms control architecture. We encourage the United States and Russia to work towards a new agreement. We also call for the commencement of long-overdue negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty under the Conference on Disarmament. 

4      Second, we must accelerate efforts to bring the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) into force. This year marks the 30^th anniversary of the opening for signature of the CTBT. Singapore welcomes the Kingdom of Tonga's ratification of the CTBT in July. We reiterate our call on all States who have yet to do so, especially the nine remaining Annex II States, to ratify the CTBT without further delay.

5       Third, Singapore is a committed State Party to the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty and supports the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones as practical building blocks towards a nuclear-weapon-free world. We encourage individual 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. Singapore remains committed to engaging all NWS to intensify efforts of all parties to resolve outstanding issues in accordance with the objectives and principles of the SEANWFZ Treaty.

6      Finally, we must continue to uphold the inalienable right of all States Parties to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy under Article IV of the NPT, in conformity with Articles I and II. We reaffirm the IAEA’s indispensable role in expanding access to the peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology, including through its Technical Cooperation Programme. As Singapore looks ahead to our Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2027, we will also work closely with other ASEAN Member States to strengthen regional cooperation with the IAEA, including through the proposed ASEAN-IAEA Strategic Partnership on Nuclear Energy, Safety, and Governance. 

Mr Chair, 

7       Singapore is committed to working with all Member States to translate longstanding commitments into concrete progress. 

8       Thank you.