New york: The Philippine government has announced its participation in a cross-regional initiative calling for the immediate commencement of negotiations on a treaty to ban the production of fissile material used in nuclear weapons. Fissile materials, including highly enriched uranium and plutonium, are essential components in the manufacturing of nuclear weapons.
According to Philippines News Agency, the proposal for a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) has been under consideration for years, yet actual negotiations have not begun. The treaty aims to prevent the expansion of nuclear arsenals among nations. Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro emphasized the urgency of finalizing a multilateral, non-discriminatory, and effectively verifiable FMCT during her remarks at the First FMCT Friends Ministerial Meeting, held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Lazaro described the FMCT as a vital component of global security, especially in light of rising geopolitical tensions and ongoing conflicts in regions such as the Middle East, Europe, and South and East Asia. She expressed concerns about the rapid expansion of nuclear arsenals in the Asia-Pacific region, cautioning that these developments could undermine the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the progress made toward nuclear disarmament over the past decades.
Lazaro warned that the threat of using nuclear weapons exacerbates strategic competition and prolonged conflicts in Europe, the Middle East, South, and East Asia. She stressed the need for collective efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and emphasized that existing commitments to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation must be upheld.
The FMCT Friends group, composed of both nuclear and non-nuclear weapon states, is working to increase political momentum for the treaty. Its members include the Philippines, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The inaugural FMCT Ministerial Meeting was chaired by Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, where member states adopted a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to a non-discriminatory, multilateral, and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. The United States participated in the meeting as an observer.
