Indonesia Urges Nuclear Weapons Owners To Stop Modernization And Expansion

Foreign Minister Sugiono attended the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons at the United Nations Headquarters, New York. (Source: PTRI New York)

JAKARTA - Indonesia urges nuclear weapons-owning countries to stop modernization and expansion, Foreign Minister Sugiono said, warning of the threats posed and the importance of the weapon-cutting mechanism.

This was conveyed by Foreign Minister Sugiono at the High Level Session to commemorate "International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons" at the United Nations Headquarters, New York Friday, on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly.

Confirming the existence of nuclear weapons remains the greatest threat to mankind, Foreign Minister Sugiono highlighted the ownership of more than 12,000 nuclear warheads by a handful of countries, including those outside the Nuclear Weapons Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

"Indonesia urges nuclear weapons-owning countries to stop modernization and expansion, take concrete steps towards dismantling, and demonstrate political commitment to a world free from nuclear weapons," said Foreign Minister Sugiono in a statement from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saturday, September 27.

Furthermore, Foreign Minister Sugiono emphasized the importance of revitalizing the weapon depletion mechanism. He called for the fulfillment of the obligation of Article VI of NPT, the immediate implementation of CTBT (Compirehensive Nuclear Trial Prohibition), the re-function of Conference on Dissarmement as a negotiation forum, as well as an invitation for all countries to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

Foreign Minister Sugiono also reminded that the threat of nuclear weapons is increasing with the emergence of new risks such as cyber attacks, artificial intelligence and terrorism.

"This risk cannot be fully controlled. The only way to prevent it is through the elimination of total nuclear weapons," said Foreign Minister Sugiono emphasizing.

He added that 2026 NPT Review Conference should be an important momentum to strengthen the commitment to opened arms and prevent a nuclear disaster.

It is known that TPNW was adopted in 2017 and took effect on January 22, 2021. To date, the agreement has been signed by more than 90 countries and ratified by more than 70 countries, including Indonesia.