International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons: A Call for Global Disarmament

— by vishal Sambyal

On the UN’s International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, leaders warn of rising threats as nuclear powers modernize their arsenals.

Introduction: A Warning Echoing Through Time

On August 6 and 9, 1945, the world witnessed destruction on a scale never seen before. Hiroshima and Nagasaki became grim reminders of the devastating power of nuclear weapons, ushering in a new era of global fear. Nearly 80 years later, the United Nations observes September 26 as the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, yet the world finds itself at a dangerous crossroads: instead of moving closer to disarmament, nuclear powers are modernizing and expanding their arsenals.

Context & Background: The UN’s Long Fight Against the Bomb

From its inception, the United Nations placed nuclear disarmament at the heart of its mission. The very first resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1946 established a commission to regulate atomic energy and ensure its use only for peaceful purposes. Since then, a series of international agreements have attempted to curb nuclear dangers:

  • Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) – cornerstone of global efforts to prevent nuclear spread.
  • Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) – signed in 1996, yet still not in force.
  • Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) – a legally binding agreement adopted in 2017 to ban nuclear weapons entirely.

Despite these efforts, nuclear dangers persist. More than 12,000 nuclear warheads remain, and no weapon has ever been destroyed under a disarmament treaty.

Main Developments: Rising Tensions and Renewed Risks

Geopolitical instability is undermining decades of fragile progress. Conflicts such as the war in Ukraine have heightened fears of nuclear escalation, while major powers are walking away from longstanding treaties.

  • In 2019, the U.S. withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.
  • In 2022, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty’s review conference ended without consensus.
  • In 2023, Russia suspended participation in the New START Treaty and withdrew its ratification of the CTBT.

Adding to the danger, several nuclear-armed states are modernizing their arsenals, integrating emerging technologies like artificial intelligence that could increase the risk of miscalculation or accidental launch.

Expert Insight: Nuclear Weapons as False Security

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a stark warning:

“Nuclear weapons deliver no security – only the promise of annihilation.”

Experts echo this sentiment, stressing that nuclear weapons are a liability rather than a safeguard. Analysts argue that as military doctrines evolve to include hypersonic missiles and AI-driven targeting systems, the margin for human error shrinks dangerously.

Public frustration is also growing. Many non-nuclear nations believe disarmament is moving at a glacial pace, while their citizens remain vulnerable to the catastrophic consequences of even a single detonation.

Impact & Implications: What’s at Stake

The stakes extend far beyond geopolitics. A nuclear detonation—intentional or accidental—would cause immediate loss of life on an unimaginable scale and long-term environmental destruction that could persist for generations. Nuclear winter, radioactive fallout, and disruptions to global food supplies remain real threats.

The erosion of arms control frameworks raises the prospect of a new nuclear arms race, potentially more dangerous than the Cold War, given today’s multipolar world and the inclusion of advanced technologies.

For countries without nuclear arsenals, the frustration is evident: they continue to push for enforceable treaties like the TPNW, while calling out the hypocrisy of nuclear powers that preach peace yet invest heavily in modern weapons.

Conclusion: A Fragile Future

The International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons is not just a symbolic observance—it is a reminder of humanity’s collective responsibility. Nearly eight decades after Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the world must confront a difficult truth: as long as nuclear weapons exist, so does the risk of their use.

Unless nations recommit to genuine disarmament and rebuild trust in multilateral agreements, the world risks stepping back into the shadow of an arms race. The future hinges on whether leaders choose the path of cooperation—or continue down the road of annihilation.

Disclaimer :This article is intended for informational purposes only. It does not endorse any political position or policy but highlights global perspectives on nuclear disarmament.