Nuclear weapons

In early 2023, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that “we are at the highest risk in decades of a nuclear war that could start by accident or design”.

Geopolitical tensions not seen since the height of the Cold War have led to the demise of arms control regimes. Profound mistrust between nations is pushing the world towards a nuclear arms race. And misunderstandings and worst-case thinking could undermine the nuclear taboo that has held since 1945.

UNIDIR works to reduce the existential risk of nuclear war and pave the way for nuclear disarmament through conducting research, providing advice and support to member-states, and promoting international dialogue.