3 March 2026 16:06 UTC · NATO · NATO News · Source · Email X Link

NATO opens 20th annual arms control conference in Berlin

Key points

Mark Rutte highlights upholding and strengthening the NPT
Conference focuses on deterrence, disarmament, non-proliferation and emerging threats

TL;DR

NATO opened the 20th annual Conference on Arms Control, Disarmament and WMD Non-Proliferation in Berlin on 3 March 2026.
Mark Rutte says Allies must uphold and strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
The two-day event brings together senior officials and experts to discuss deterrence, arms control, disarmament, non-proliferation, emerging technologies and threats.

Original text

Create an account Reset password Already have an account? Log in From now on you can download videos from our website If you would also like to subscribe to the newsletter and receive our latest updates, click on the button below. Enter the email address you registered with and we will send you a code to reset your password. The password must be at least 12 characters long, no spaces, include upper/lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. Click the button to return to the page you were on and log in with your new password. 03 March 2026 2 MIN READ On Tuesday (3 March 2026), NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and the State Secretary of the German Federal Foreign Office Géza Andreas von Geyr, opened the 20 th annual NATO Conference on Arms Control, Disarmament and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Non-Proliferation. The two-day conference in Berlin brings together senior officials and experts from Allied and partner nations, as well as international organisations, to discuss the evolving global security environment and the future of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation. In a pre-recorded video message to conference participants, Secretary General Rutte highlighted how the topic remains essential to our shared security. “We face numerous challenges, including from the world’s deadliest weapons in the hands of those who seek to undermine us,” he said. “But NATO Allies are ensuring that we have what we need to deter and defend.” This year’s conference focuses on the “strategic crossroads” of international arms control, highlighting NATO’s dual commitment to strengthening deterrence and defence, while actively pursuing stability through effective arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation. The participants also discussed the future of multilateral frameworks, such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), ahead of its 11 th Review Conference this spring. “We must uphold and strengthen the NPT; there is no credible alternative to it,” the Secretary General said, adding that arms control and non-proliferation reduces risk, enhances predictability, and contributes to international stability. “And the stronger we are, the more successful our dialogue on arms control and non-proliferation is. Resulting in greater security for all,” he added. The conference will also address collective responses to emerging threats from state and non-state actors seeking to weaken existing global guardrails, as well as the impact of emerging technologies on WMD non-proliferation. NATO has organised the annual Conference on Arms Control, Disarmament and WMD Non-Proliferation since 2004. Co-hosted by NATO Allies, the event offers an opportunity for informal discussions among high-ranking government officials and experts on threats posed by WMD. Link was copied to clipboard

Key tags

Topics

Keywords

Stats

Word count: 444

Summary words: 74

Compression: 17%

Boilerplate removed: Yes

Top phrases:

Entities

People

Organizations