The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) has called on world leaders to renew their commitment to eliminating nuclear arms, warning that the global threat of nuclear conflict remains dangerously high.
Speaking at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly’s First Committee, ICAN General Counsel and UN Liaison, Seth Shelden, said that despite international law mandating disarmament, nuclear-armed nations continue to expand their arsenals, spending over $100 billion in 2024 alone.
Shelden lamented that none of the nine nuclear-armed states are pursuing disarmament in good faith and raised alarm over the integration of artificial intelligence into nuclear command and control systems.
He, however, described the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) as “a beacon of hope,” commending Ghana and Kyrgyzstan for their recent ratification and signature, respectively. Shelden urged all nations, including nuclear powers and their allies, to join the TPNW ahead of its first review conference in 2026, noting that nuclear disarmament remains essential to global peace, human rights, and the UN’s founding principles.
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