Diyar Guldogan
28 April 2026•Update: 28 April 2026
The global nuclear non-proliferation regime faces its toughest test in decades, said the president of the 11th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), as countries gathered in New York for a critical review of the treaty.
“This review conference convenes at a particularly challenging time,” Ambassador Do Hung Viet told reporters. “It is quite clear that we are, in fact, in the most difficult time, the most challenging time for the NPT regime itself.”
Viet noted that in the months leading up to the conference, he conducted extensive diplomatic outreach to build consensus among member states.
“In my capacity as president of the conference, I have been conducting extensive consultations with states parties and other stakeholders,” he said, referring to regional meetings held across Asia-Pacific, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
The consultations, he explained, were aimed at identifying common ground and preparing for negotiations at a time of heightened geopolitical tension.
Despite the high stakes, Viet cautioned against expecting the conference to resolve broader global conflicts.
"I do not expect this conference to resolve all, you know, regional disputes or conflicts. I do not believe that the conference can settle all strategic tensions that are out there," he said.
Instead, he emphasized that the primary role of the review conference is more focused: assessing how well countries are meeting their commitments under the NPT and charting a path forward.
The NPT, which entered into force in 1970 and was extended indefinitely in 1995, aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, promote disarmament, and encourage the peaceful use of nuclear energy. It remains a central framework for global efforts to limit nuclear proliferation.
The conference is bringing together diplomats from around the world at a time of heightened concern over nuclear risks and strategic competition.
