NATO's 20th annual arms control and WMD conference takes place in Berlin
The 20th annual NATO conference on arms control, disarmament and weapons of mass destruction non-proliferation has taken place in Berlin, Germany, on 3-4 March.
According to information published by NATO, the two-day conference in Berlin brought together senior officials and experts from allied and partner nations, as well as international organisations, to discuss the evolving global security environment and the future of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation.
In a pre-recorded video message to conference participants on Tuesday 3 March, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte said how the topic remains essential to shared security: "We face numerous challenges, including from the world’s deadliest weapons in the hands of those who seek to undermine us [...] but NATO allies are ensuring that we have what we need to deter and defend."
This year’s conference focused on the "strategic crossroads" of international arms control, according to NATO, highlighting the organisation's "dual commitment to strengthening deterrence and defence, while actively pursuing stability through effective arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation".
Participants also discussed the future of multilateral frameworks, such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), ahead of its 11th review conference this spring.
"We must uphold and strengthen the NPT; there is no credible alternative to it," said secretary general Rutte, adding that arms control and non-proliferation reduces risk, enhances predictability and contributes to international stability. "And the stronger we are, the more successful our dialogue on arms control and non-proliferation is, resulting in greater security for all," he added.
The conference also addressed collective responses to emerging threats from state and non-state actors seeking to weaken existing global guardrails, as well as the impact of emerging technologies on weapons of mass destruction non-proliferation.
