Guterres warns of a dangerous escalation of conflicts and tensions

Guterres warns of a dangerous escalation of conflicts and tensions

Guterres urged the promotion of disarmament and non-proliferation, describing them as existential foundations.

United Nations. – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned today of a dangerous scenario for humanity characterized by increasing military spending, increasing geopolitical tensions and violent conflict.

In his message on the International Day of Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness, the senior diplomat cited as other serious concerns the increasing use of illegal small arms and light weapons, explosive devices in populated areas and the military use of technologies such as artificial intelligence.

Meanwhile, some heads of state and government are using apocalyptic rhetoric about the use of nuclear weapons, the head of the United Nations (UN) also said.

Guterres urged the promotion of disarmament and non-proliferation, describing them as fundamental not only to a peaceful future but also to existence itself.

In this spirit, he called on world leaders to invest in peace, strengthen systems and instruments that prevent the proliferation and use of lethal weapons, and develop disarmament solutions.

The new agenda for peace developed by the United Nations includes new strategies and approaches to eliminate the threats posed by nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, as well as other emerging threats such as autonomous weapons systems, recalled Guterres.

This international date, established since 2022, promotes some of the fundamental goals of the multilateral organization since its founding in 1945: multilateral disarmament and arms reduction, which are essential to the organization's efforts to maintain international peace and security.

According to the United Nations, weapons of mass destruction, and particularly nuclear weapons, remain a concern because of their destructive power and the threat they pose to humanity.

In this scenario, this World Day contributes to a better understanding of disarmament efforts and their contribution to peace and security, the prevention and termination of armed conflicts, and the end to human suffering caused by weapons. (PL)