Philippines, Germany Co-Host Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative 15th Anniversary Recpeption
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Charles C. Jose welcomes attendees by noting the NPDI’s unique composition,“[c]ountries that may not always agree on every issue, but who have always found unity in purpose: the preservation of the integrity of the NPT, and the pursuit of real, measurable progress in disarmament and non-proliferation.” (New York PM photo)
NEW YORK 07 May 2025 — The Permanent Missions of the Philippines and Germany to the United Nations marked the 15th anniversary of the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI) with a high-profile joint reception on the opening day of the 3rd Session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (3rd NPT PrepCom). Undersecretary Charles C. Jose of the Department of Foreign Affairs delivered the welcome remarks, wherein he emphasized the coalition’s role as a “microcosm of what multilateral diplomacy can and should be – a forum where differing perspectives are not an obstacle, but a resource.”
Usec. Jose underscored the Philippines’ leadership role as a 2025 NPDI coordinator alongside Australia and Japan, stating that the country embraces this responsibility “with deep commitment to the Initiative’s tradition of consensus-building, innovation, and principled advocacy.”
Addressing the current geopolitical challenges, Usec. Jose framed the anniversary as a call to action. “This anniversary is not only a celebration of the NPDI’s achievements, but a call to recommit ourselves to the path ahead… The NPDI stands ready – as it has for fifteen years – to help bridge divides and build trust,” he stressed.
The event highlighted the group’s 15-year track record in advancing proposals on transparency, verification frameworks, and risk reduction measures. With its twelve member countries- the Philippines, Australia, Canada, Chile, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the Netherland, Nigeria, Poland, Turkiye, and the UAE, the NPDI has become a leading cross-regional voice for advancing nuclear disarmament and strengthening the NPT through concrete, consensus-based proposals.
With a strong focus on transparency and accountability in the NPT, the event heard from high-level speakers, including H.E. Under-Secretary-General, Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu and the Chair of the 3rd PrepCom, H.E. Ambassador Agyeman from Ghana, who underscored the NPDI’s cross-regional influence.
With the 2026 NPT Review Conference on the horizon, the NPDI aims to reinforce the treaty’s pillars: non-proliferation, disarmament, and peaceful nuclear energy use. The group’s recent proposals advocate for a time-bound disarmament framework and enhanced accountability for nuclear-weapon states under Article VI of the NPT. END
For more information, visit https://www.newyorkpm.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.un.int/philippines or https://www.facebook.com/PHMissionNY/.