The New Nuclear Normal? Preserving Security in an Insecure World

March 4, 8:15-9:45 AM | UN Headquarters, New York

Last year, UN Member States adopted the Pact for the Future, reaffirming their commitment to “advance the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons.” Yet, reality stands in stark contrast as many nuclear disarmament achievements of the past decades are dissipating: Nuclear-armed countries further build up and modernize their arsenals, and nuclear weapons feature increasingly prominent in the security strategies of a growing number of countries, further entrenching the divide between nuclear-armed states and the vast majority of countries that have chosen a path free of nuclear weapons. While some states view nuclear deterrence as a fundamental element of their security, others see it as a source of profound global instability and a direct threat to international security.

Held during the Third Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, this discussion event organized by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), in partnership with the Arms Control Association and the International Disarmament Institute at Pace University, aimed to bridge these divergent security perspectives to constructively discuss a common path ahead and how to deal with the existential threat of nuclear weapons. The meeting, held under Chatham House rule, brought together selected parliamentarians and diplomats from UN member states, representatives from international organizations, and civil society experts.

Read the full event report here. 

Welcome:

• Matthias Jobelius, Director, FES New York

Moderation:

• Daryl Kimball, Executive Director, Arms Control Association

Speakers:

• H.E. Amb. Alexander Kmentt, Director Disarmament, Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Department, Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Hon. Marilou McPhedran, Senator, Manitoba, Canada

Open discussion with all participants

Wrap-up:

• Emily Welty, Professor and Co-Director, International Disarmament Institute, Pace University