Current nuclear risk is the most serious in decades: UN Chief

New Delhi: The nuclear risk is currently at the highest point in decades, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday.

“The nuclear risk has climbed to its highest point in decades,” he said at a United Nations Security Council meeting.

“Countries with nuclear weapons must commit to the “no first use” of those weapons,” he stressed. “They must also assure States that do not have nuclear weapons that they will not use — or threaten to use — nuclear weapons against them and be transparent throughout. Nuclear saber-rattling must stop.”

“We need all States to recommit to a world free of nuclear weapons and to spare no effort to come to the negotiating table to ease tensions and end the nuclear arms race, once and for all,” Guterres said.

The United Nations Security Council is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, and approving any changes to the UN Charter.

The United Nations is one of the most powerful international organizations. However, other international organizations, such as NATO, the European Union, and the Asian Development Bank, also have significant global authority. Importantly, the UN is not more powerful than national governments.

(Vinayak)