WORLD REMAINS UNDER NUCLEAR THREAT, WARNS INDONESIA’S FOREIGN MINISTER

By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar

JAKARTA, Sept 27 (Bernama) -- Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, delivered a stark warning at the United Nations on Thursday, asserting that despite global hopes for a brighter future, the world still faces the looming threat of nuclear destruction.

“Currently, 13,000 nuclear weapons are retained by a handful of states, including some outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT),” she said during the High-Level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.

Retno expressed concern about the weakening of arms control agreements, the rise in aggressive nuclear rhetoric, and the risks posed by advancements in technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), all of which heighten the dangers associated with nuclear weapons.

“Against these grim developments we should ask ourselves: Should fear of nuclear weapons be our guarantee for peace” Indonesia’s answer will forever be no,” Retno affirmed, reiterating the country’s commitment to global disarmament.

She urged nations to prioritise three key actions, including the earnest initiation of disarmament negotiations, stating that inaction is not an option and emphasising the need to renew political will and intensify efforts towards a nuclear-free world.

She stressed the need to address the risks posed by emerging technologies with robust regulations to prevent the rising threat of nuclear conflicts and the importance of ensuring a legacy of peace by choosing unity, cooperation, and a commitment to overcoming divisions and mistrust.

“The choices we make today will shape the world for generations to come,” Retno concluded, insisting that fear should not dictate the future.

Indonesia submitted its Instrument of Ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) to the United Nations Secretary-General during a Treaty Event on Tuesday.

As of now, 93 countries have signed the TPNW, with 73 having ratified it and Indonesia stands alongside six other ASEAN countries: Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, in this commitment.

-- BERMAMA