The Philippine government has reiterated its strong stance against nuclear weapons, calling for their total elimination and urging all nations to set aside narrow interests in favor of global disarmament, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday.
The renewed call was made during the general debate of the 3rd Session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), held on April 28 in New York City.
“The Philippines reaffirmed its commitment to these objectives, highlighting that the treaty remains the cornerstone of the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation architecture,” the DFA said.
DFA Undersecretary Charles Jose, who delivered the Philippine statement, emphasized the need for a “time-bound, phased, and verifiable program for the total elimination of nuclear weapons, and the provision of legally binding security assurances to Non-Nuclear-Weapon States.”
“Precisely because we live in a time of geopolitical instability, we must rally behind the NPT and the grand bargain it represents. The Treaty must be preserved, strengthened, and meaningfully implemented,” he added.
Speaking on behalf of the Non-Proliferation Disarmament Initiative (NPDI), Jose also raised concerns over the rising number of nuclear warheads globally. “Put simply, the world is now heading in the wrong direction,” he warned.
The DFA reaffirmed that the Philippines remains committed to multilateral cooperation, dialogue, and the use of legally binding instruments to build a nuclear-free world.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has also recently restated the country’s firm opposition to nuclear weapons proliferation, in line with its international obligations.
The 3rd NPT PrepCom runs until May 9 and serves as the final preparatory session before the 2026 Review Conference, where the treaty’s implementation will be assessed.