Original text
As we meet in the eighty-first year of the United Nations, we are reminded that the international security architecture, built over generations, cannot be taken for granted. As my Prime Minister said in his recent statement to the UN General Assembly, this is a dangerous, turbulent age. Strategic competition is intensifying. We are witnessing an industrial-scale assault by hostile actors like Russia on the informatio...
As we meet in the eighty-first year of the United Nations, we are reminded that the international security architecture, built over generations, cannot be taken for granted. As my Prime Minister said in his recent statement to the UN General Assembly, this is a dangerous, turbulent age. Strategic competition is intensifying. We are witnessing an industrial-scale assault by hostile actors like Russia on the information environment in the UK and many of our allies. Rapid technological change is creating new security challenges. At such a moment, we must recommit ourselves to the principles that have underpinned international peace and security for decades: respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and adherence to international law. The United Kingdom will remain a steadfast defender of those principles and of the international system that sustains them. We are proud to stand up for our values and the rule of law. Raising the cost to Russia of its illegal and senseless war against Ukraine, challenging Iran’s non-compliance with its nuclear safeguards obligations, and the DPRK’s unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. Yet even in a challenging security environment, progress remains possible. Last month, after more than a decade of debate over Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems, and under the outstanding Chairmanship of Dutch Ambassador Robert in Den Bosch, the Group of Governmental Experts on LAWS agreed a set of elements for a possible future instrument. A set of recommendations for strengthening the Biological Weapons Convention is within our reach, including the establishment of mechanisms that strengthen international cooperation and assistance, and States’ ability to respond to the threats and opportunities of emerging technologies like Frontier AI. In New York in May, States Parties gathered for the eleventh NPT Review Conference. While we regret that the Conference was unable to achieve a consensus outcome, the absence of a final document does not diminish the value of the treaty, nor the enduring commitment of States Parties to its implementation. The Review Conference demonstrated that there remains significant common ground across all three pillars, including transparency, risk reduction, safeguards, peaceful uses, and the shared objective of preventing the spread of nuclear weapons. The United Kingdom’s priorities are clear. We will keep investing in our defence, meeting our NATO commitments and strengthening European capabilities. Not because we seek confrontation. But because in the face of hostile state threats, we must be unflinching in defending our people and our allies. We will continue to support the institutions and mechanisms that underpin the international non-proliferation regime. This includes strong support for the IAEA and its safeguards system, the responsible and peaceful use of nuclear technology, and Nuclear Weapon Free Zones. The United Kingdom remains committed to the long-term goal of a world without nuclear weapons. Progress towards that goal must be practical, realistic and capable of commanding broad international support. During the UK Chairship of the P5 Process, we worked to advance engagement on transparency, risk reduction and strategic stability. In a difficult international environment, such dialogue remains crucial. We will work around the world to uphold, promote and implement the Chemical and the Biological Weapons Conventions, to reinforce the global ban and hold to account all those who use such weapons. The OPCW plays a vital role in keeping us all safe. We commend the work they are doing to support the Syrian Government’s determination to eliminate the remaining elements of the Assad regime’s chemical weapons programme. We will work tirelessly to manage the risk of conflict in outer space through practical measures that strengthen transparency, build confidence and reduce risks. Our support for the mandate of the OEWG on PAROS in all its aspects remains steadfast, even as some States seek to reinterpret that mandate and risk a return to the competing tracks of the past. We will defend the norms of humanitarian arms control in the face of growing conflict across the world. Chair, Frontier AI is one of the most significant challenges and opportunities of our age. As His Majesty King Charles said at his recent meeting with leaders of the world’s largest AI companies, the task before us “is not merely to advance technology, but to ensure that it remains firmly in the service of humanity.” That is why the United Kingdom will put AI at the heart of our G20 Presidency next year; delivering on the potential of AI for good and dealing with the risks. As we mark more than eight decades of the United Nations, the United Kingdom reaffirms its commitment to the UN Charter, international law and effective multilateralism. We will continue to work constructively with all partners, in a spirit of pragmatism and dialogue, to strengthen international peace and security and address the challenges before us. Thank you.
Speech Brief