A cross-regional group of non-nuclear-weapon states has issued a joint call for renewed dialogue and cooperation ahead of the upcoming Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), set to begin later this month.
The statement, released by the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI), brings together countries including Japan, Germany, Canada and Australia, and aims to rebuild momentum around the global nuclear framework at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions.
Framing the current moment as a “critical juncture,” the group warned that recent developments — including the expiration of the New START treaty between the United States and Russia — have left the international system without binding limits on nuclear arsenals, increasing the risk of a renewed arms race.
The NPDI reaffirmed its commitment to the NPT as the cornerstone of global non-proliferation, while urging nuclear-weapon states to demonstrate greater transparency, accountability and concrete progress toward disarmament. The group also called for new, verifiable arms control arrangements adapted to today’s security environment.
Japan, the only country to have experienced atomic bombings, is expected to play a bridging role during the conference, seeking common ground between nuclear and non-nuclear states. Tokyo has reiterated its intention to actively contribute to consensus-building efforts, positioning itself as a key diplomatic actor in a fragmented global landscape.
