Kuwait: Complete Elimination of Nuclear Weapons Represents the Sole Guarantee to Prevent Their Use

The State of Kuwait affirmed that the complete elimination of nuclear weapons constitutes the sole guarantee against their use, warning that the accumulation, development, and threat of use of such weapons undermine international security and place peoples under the threat of annihilation. This was stated in the statement delivered by Kuwait’s Diplomatic Attaché, Jirah Al-Anzi, before the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) of the United Nations General Assembly during the discussion of the agenda item on nuclear weapons.

Al-Anzi reiterated Kuwait’s steadfast commitment to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the balanced implementation of its three pillars, expressing regret that the 2026 NPT Review Conference failed to adopt a consensus final document. He cautioned that the inability to reach consensus does not negate obligations, foremost among them those under Article VI, and called for taking practical, verifiable steps toward nuclear disarmament within clear timeframes, as well as providing legally binding, effective, and unconditional security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon states, guaranteeing that such weapons will not be used or threatened against them until their complete elimination.

Regarding the Iranian nuclear file, Al-Anzi emphasized the importance of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors’ decisions to inform the Security Council and the General Assembly of its resolutions and the relevant report by the Director General. He urged Iran to address its non-compliance with safeguards obligations, provide the necessary information, and grant access to inspectors. He stressed that confidence in the peaceful nature of nuclear programs is built on verifiability, and that cooperation with the IAEA is a legal obligation requiring full compliance, while noting Kuwait’s support for a diplomatic solution that addresses existing concerns and preserves the security and stability of the region.

Al-Anzi also renewed Kuwait’s call upon the international community to take serious steps to encourage Israel, the occupying power, to join the NPT as a non-nuclear-weapon state and to subject all its nuclear facilities and activities to comprehensive safeguards. He warned that continuing to exempt the occupying entity entrenches insecurity and undermines the credibility of non-proliferation, emphasizing that sustainable regional security cannot be built on unequal commitments and selective application.

He affirmed Kuwait’s firm support for the establishment of a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East, and for the implementation of the 1995 resolution on this matter, wishing the Sultanate of Oman success in its presidency of the seventh session of the Conference on the Matter and progress toward a legally binding treaty with the participation of all regional parties.

He noted that during Kuwait’s tenure as Chair of the IAEA Board of Governors for the period (2026–2027), it will work to safeguard the independence of technical assessments, facilitate consensus that supports verification and implementation of obligations, and enhance technical cooperation and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy to serve countries and their peoples.

Al-Anzi concluded Kuwait’s statement by affirming that the credibility of the disarmament and non-proliferation regime is measured by the commitments countries fulfill and the progress they achieve toward a world free of nuclear weapons, calling for translating decisions into tangible action that safeguards the security of peoples and their right to peace and development.