UN chief Guterres calls for global shift away from nuclear weapons

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for a global shift away from nuclear weapons, warning that the world has lived under the nuclear shadow for more than eight decades.

Speaking on the matter, Guterres emphasized that future generations must not be forced to live under the same threat that has shaped international relations since the first use of nuclear weapons in the 1940s. His remarks underscored longstanding UN concerns about the risks posed by nuclear arsenals and the slow pace of global disarmament efforts.

A recurring UN priority

Nuclear disarmament has remained a central theme in UN diplomacy for decades, with the organization repeatedly urging nuclear-armed states to reduce stockpiles and strengthen non-proliferation frameworks. Guterres has previously used similar language to press member states toward renewed commitments on arms control.

The secretary-general's comments come against a backdrop of ongoing international tensions involving nuclear-capable states, which have complicated efforts to advance disarmament talks in recent years.

While Guterres did not announce new UN initiatives in the remarks reported, his call reinforces the organization's consistent position that reducing reliance on nuclear weapons remains essential to long-term global security, and that the responsibility falls on current generations to change course.