Experts from the SIPRI Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme took part in the 11th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) taking place from 27 April to 22 May in New York. SIPRI experts contributed to a range of events on nuclear disarmament, risk reduction and the implications of emerging technologies.
SIPRI co-organized events
On 29 April, Dr Tytti Erästö, SIPRI Senior Researcher, spoke at the side event ‘Preventing backsliding on nuclear disarmament’, co-organized by SIPRI, the Hiroshima Prefectural Government and the Hiroshima Organization for Global Peace. The event focused on preventing backsliding on nuclear disarmament, arguments for and against nuclear deterrence and pathways towards sustainable security frameworks that do not rely on nuclear weapons.
On 1 May, Dr Wilfred Wan, SIPRI Programme Director, chaired a side event co-organized by SIPRI and the European Union Non Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium, ‘Taking concrete steps to enhance transparency and accountability in the NPT review process’. The discussion examined how states parties can implement proposals to enhance transparency and accountability and strengthen the review cycle to better support a shared roadmap for action.
On 7 May, SIPRI co‑organized an event with the German Federal Foreign Office, ‘Exploring opportunities at the AI–nuclear nexus’. The event addressed how developments at the artificial intelligence–nuclear nexus could support de‑escalation, reduce risks and enhance strategic stability. Vladislav Chernavskikh, SIPRI Researcher, spoke on the panel and Dr Wan moderated the discussion.
Other side events and panels
On 27 April, Dr Erästö spoke at a side event organized by Chatham House, ‘From stalemate to solutions: Rethinking nuclear arms control’, where she addressed nuclear risk reduction in northern Europe.
Dr Wan participated in several other side events. On 30 April, he spoke at a United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs event in partnership with the Y4D Forum Alumni and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the UN, ‘Future proofing the NPT: A youth-led intergenerational dialogue on nuclear weapons and emerging technologies’. On 8 May, he moderated a discussion on ‘Strengthening synergies between the NPT and UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security’ organized by the UN Institute for Disarmament Research, and on 12 May, he took part in a panel on ‘A new approach: The non-governmental Expert Panel on Nuclear Disarmament Verification’.
On 6 May, Chernavskikh spoke at an ACONA side event organized by the Austrian, Mexican and Indonesian UN missions on the topic ‘Beyond “human in the loop”–Bringing the AI–nuclear discussion within the NPT’.
About the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)
The NPT entered into force in 1970 and is regarded as the cornerstone of the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. It was designed to prevent proliferation of nuclear weapons, to further nuclear disarmament and to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Review conferences are held every five years, and this year states parties will examine how the treaty’s provisions have been implemented since 2022.