Philippines Urges Disarmament Body to Take Decisive Steps in Nuclear Disarmament, Space Security, and Arms Control
GENEVA 26 February 2025 — The Philippines called on the Conference on Disarmament (CD) to take decisive action in advancing disarmament goals, urging member states to deliver meaningful progress in disarmament to strengthen global security mechanisms.
Speaking at the 2025 High-Level Segment of the Conference on Disarmament on 24 February 2025, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Charles C. Jose reaffirmed the Philippines’ deep commitment to disarmament and non-proliferation, emphasizing that multilateral cooperation and collective action remain essential to international peace and security.
“We must be fully conscious of our accountability as UN members to ‘unite in strength to maintain international peace and security,’” Undersecretary Jose stated, echoing the Philippines’ long-standing advocacy for disarmament. “It is in the interest of all UN members that the Conference does not lose its status as a vital forum for disarmament, in an era that urgently demands collective and far-seeing global action.”
The Philippines underscored the urgency of advancing legally binding instruments, particularly a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) and measures to prevent the militarization of outer space.
“We must safeguard outer space as a domain for peace, for advancing science, and for optimizing technology for development,” Undersecretary Jose stressed.
On the sidelines of the conference, Undersecretary Jose met with UN Undersecretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu to discuss the urgent need for stronger global cooperation on disarmament and non-proliferation efforts. Both officials exchanged views on revitalizing disarmament negotiations and enhancing regional and multilateral mechanisms to address evolving security threats, with Undersecretary Jose reaffirming the Philippines’ commitment to working closely with the UN in strengthening global disarmament initiatives.
The Conference on Disarmament (CD) remains the world’s primary multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, having produced key agreements such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), and the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). However, despite its historical achievements, the CD has struggled to move forward due to prolonged procedural deadlocks.
As part of its broader commitment to humanitarian disarmament, the Philippines is also taking concrete steps to advance disarmament discussions at the regional level. In the first two months of the year alone, it already hosted a series of regional workshops, including on Ballistic Missile proliferation, BWC Compliance and Verification, and on Countering WMD Disinformation in collaboration with international partners.
“These initiatives reflect our dedication to fostering international peace, security, and cooperation,” Undersecretary Jose noted.
With the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and the 50th anniversary of the CD approaching, the Philippines – one of only three Asian countries among the 51 founding members of the UN – urges all nations to recommit to the vision of a world free from weapons of mass destruction and armed conflict, upholding the multilateral principles that have shaped global peace and security since 1945. END