Madame Chairperson,

As a responsible nuclear-weapon State India has a policy of maintaining a credible minimum deterrence with a posture of no-first use and non-use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon States.

India continues to be firmly committed to global nuclear disarmament, which must be universal, non-discriminatory and verifiable. 

Our view is that this goal can be achieved in a time-bound manner by a step-by-step process underwritten by a universal commitment and an agreed multilateral framework, which is global and non-discriminatory in nature.

As the world’s single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, the Conference on Disarmament has the mandate and membership to commence negotiations on a comprehensive Nuclear Weapons Convention.

We have outlined our approach to nuclear disarmament in our Working Paper submitted to the UNGA First Committee in 2006 and to the Conference on Disarmament in 2007 (CD/1816), which has an enduring relevance, even today.

India remains committed to a voluntary, unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing. We have also indicated willingness to move towards a de jure formalisation of this declaration.

Without diminishing the priority that we attach to disarmament, India supports the immediate commencement of negotiations in the CD on a non-discriminatory, multilateral internationally and effectively verifiable Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) on the basis of CD/1299 and the mandate contained therein, which remains the most suitable basis for negotiations.

Madame Chairperson,

India presents two resolutions in this cluster.

The resolution on a “Convention on the Prohibition of the use of Nuclear Weapons” that India has introduced since 1982 in this Committee requests the CD to commence negotiations on an international convention prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances.

We are convinced that such a multilateral, universal and legally binding agreement would generate necessary political will among States possessing nuclear weapons to engage in negotiations leading to their total elimination.

We have since 1998 also introduced a resolution on ‘Reducing Nuclear Danger’ drawing global attention to the hair-trigger alert of nuclear weapons and calls for steps to reduce the risk of unintentional or accidental use of nuclear weapons, including through de-alerting and de-targeting of nuclear weapons.

We seek the support and sponsorship of Member States for these resolutions.

Madame Chairperson,

The Treaty on Prohibition of nuclear weapons, negotiated outside the Conference on Disarmament, does not create obligations for India.

India’s commitment to global nuclear disarmament, however, remains unchanged. We stand ready to work with all countries to achieve that objective.

Madame Chairperson,

We congratulate the winners of the Nobel Prize for Peace from Japan.

India strongly supports upholding and strengthening global non-proliferation objectives. We believe that the international community must do all it can to prevent terrorists and non-state actors from gaining access to nuclear weapons, materials and technologies.

Finally, I would like to reiterate that India stands ready to work with fellow member States towards the shared objective of a world free of nuclear weapons.