NPT review conference ends without consensus as president warns of growing nuclear risks

Ambassador Viet, president of the 11th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non‑Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), said the conference ended without a consensus outcome and expressed concern about the treaty’s future. “I am disappointed that the review conference was unable to reach consensus on an outcome document and really seize this critical opportunity to make our world a safer place,” he said during a United Nations press briefing.

Why it matters: Viet told reporters the failure to adopt a document after four weeks of talks risks weakening the NPT, which he described as “the cornerstone of the global disarmament and non‑proliferation regime.” He urged states parties — particularly nuclear‑weapon states — to implement their disarmament commitments under Article VI and to pursue dialogue and confidence‑building measures even absent a formal outcome.

Viet said he chose not to put the draft document to a vote because he could not present a text he knew some states would be compelled to block without appearing to take sides. “If anyone is to be blamed then I would take that responsibility,” he said, explaining that he withheld the text to avoid forcing any delegation into the position of being singled out for the conference’s failure.

Izumi Nakamitsu, Under‑Secretary‑General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, praised the process as “transparent and inclusive” and thanked Viet for his stewardship, while echoing a plea for renewed political will. “From the United Nations we will not give up,” Nakamitsu said, stressing that the UN and member states must use other avenues — including scientific panels and humanitarian education — to keep momentum on disarmament.

Viet warned that current international tensions, nuclear modernization and some quantitative increases in arsenals make urgent action necessary. He pointed to draft provisions that would have asked nuclear‑weapon states to engage in sustained dialogues to reduce tensions and to consider measures to lower the risk of use — steps he said should be pursued by those states even without a conference outcome.

What comes next: Viet said work will continue in the coming weeks and months and that states parties will have to discuss procedural reforms in the next review cycle. He highlighted procedural changes introduced during the conference — including earlier circulation of a zero draft and time limits for statements — as possible models for future review processes. The briefing closed with no vote or formal outcome recorded at the conference.