30.04.2025 Statement by Denmark at the Third Session of the NPT PrepCom for the 11th NPT RevCon of the Parties

Check Against Delivery

Thank you Chair,

Denmark fully aligns itself with the statement of the European Union, the joint statement by Ukraine and with the statement of the Vienna Group of Ten countries.

We congratulate you, Chair, on your appointment, and look forward to working with you.

We remain deeply committed to the NPT and its three pillars. We fully support efforts to uphold and strengthen the non-proliferation and disarmament regime with the NPT at its core. This requires renewed efforts to strive for full implementation of the obligations and commitments entailed by the NPT and for its universalisation. There is no alternative.

Chair,

Denmark would like to see a world without nuclear weapons. Steps in that direction can include work on risk reduction, increased transparency and on nuclear disarmament verification. At the same time, we must all recognize that there are significant challenges to nuclear disarmament due to the current global security environment.

We support the efforts to promote the entry into force of the CTBT. We call on the remaining Annex II states to ratify the Treaty and enable its entry into force. In this regard, it is highly regrettable, that Russia has withdrawn its ratification of the Treaty. We urge Russia to reverse its decision and, in the meantime, continue to act in accordance with the letter and spirit of the CTBT, including by maintaining the moratorium on nuclear tests. 

Another important step would be the commencement and early conclusion of negotiations on a treaty banning the production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons or other explosive devices. Pending a future FMCT in force, we call on China and all States concerned to declare and uphold an immediate moratorium on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons.

While we fully support such steps being taken and believe they pave the way towards nuclear disarmament, the current environment is, unfortunately, not conducive to swift progress.

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has gravely undermined global security and effective multilateralism. Russia’s irresponsible nuclear rhetoric, its decision to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus and its seizure of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant all add to the dangers created by this illegal attack.

We are also concerned by China’s massive and rapid expansion of its nuclear arsenal, which run counter to the obligations entailed in Article VI. This is further exacerbated by China’s lack of transparency, its ambiguity about its “no first use” doctrine and by its lack of willingness to engage in arms control. We encourage China to explain how this fits with its NPT commitments to pursue disarmament in good faith.

Chair,

The world also faces several serious nuclear proliferation challenges. The DPRK continues to develop its unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programmes in blatant violation of multiple Security Council resolutions. Iran is expanding its capability to enrich Uranium and its stockpiles, escalating its violations of the JCPoA, while also refusing to cooperate with the IAEA, including to implement all its safeguards obligations.

In all these fields, we underline our solid support for the work of the IAEA. The IAEA safeguards system is the best bulwark we have against nuclear proliferation and must be as strong as possible. For this reason, we reiterate our call for the universalisation of Safeguards Agreements and particularly the Additional Protocol as the current NPT standard.

The IAEA’s work on nuclear safety and security is key to creating conditions for the responsible use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in accordance with Article IV of the NPT, for all states in compliance with the NPT.

We stress our support for multilateral export control regimes, especially the Zangger Committee and the Nuclear Suppliers Group, which help us all live up to our obligations under Article III as well as Article IV.

Before I conclude, let me share a few thoughts from the perspective of a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.  NATO Allies are committed to the NPT as the cornerstone of the global non-proliferation regime and disarmament architecture. At the same time, NATO must stay a nuclear alliance as long as nuclear weapons exist. The fundamental purpose of NATO’s nuclear capability is to preserve peace, prevent coercion, and deter aggression. NATO’s nuclear arrangements have ensured non-proliferation of nuclear weapons by removing the incentive for the States whose security depends on them to develop nuclear deterrence of their own. At the same time, NATO’s nuclear policies are also fully consistent with both Articles I and II of the NPT.

Chair,

Denmark stands ready to contribute to the work of this Committee in the face of several profound challenges as we move toward next year's Review Conference.

I thank you.