According to VCDNP's Gaukhar Mukhatzhanova, some of the most significant challenges facing the upcoming Review Conference to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) include the crisis in relations between the United States and the Russian Federation, nuclear weapons policy during the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of past commitments under the NPT.
Ms. Mukhatzhanova, Director of the International Organizations in Nonproliferation Program, expressed these concerns as a discussant during a webinar organised jointly by the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) and the Center for Energy and Security Studies (CENESS).
In addition to Ms. Mukhatzhanova, the webinar included remarks by Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu (UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs), Dr. William Potter (CNS Founding Director), Ambassador Maria del Socorro Flores Liera (Permanent Representative of Mexico to the Conference on Disarmament), Ambassador Aidan Liddle (Permanent Representative of the UK to the Conference on Disarmament), Ambassador Benno Laggner (Resident Representative of Switzerland to the IAEA and Permanent Representative to the CTBTO Preparatory Commission) and Ambassador Gustavo Zlauvinen (President-designate of the Tenth NPT Review Conference). CENESS Director Anton Khlopkov moderated the webinar.