Topic: 2025 – No First Use Policies and Nuclear Disarmament
Country: Portugal
Delegate Name: John Weaver
We all know the dangers of nuclear weapons. The destruction, the desecration, and death that follows in the wake of nuclear misuse. This is why as the nuclear proliferation crisis in the Middle East grows, Portugal has been stressing the importance of the IAEA and its related agencies. Portugal both politically and financially supports UNODA and UNIDIR. But disarmament is an issue that cannot be tackled through the current machinery. A full stage nuclear disarmament requires co-operation from multiple regions and states through a singular organisation that is multilateral and can work beyond borders.
This is why Portugal believes that to strengthen disarmament we must first promote co-operation between countries and multilateral approaches to this issue. Regional, national, and local institutions all need corresponding disarmament policies that focus on overcoming previous deadlocks in the machinery to create concrete solutions. The NPT is one of the best places to start in terms of preventing nuclear proliferation. It binds both nuclear capable and non nuclear capable countries to the peaceful use of fissionable materials and prevents the spread of nuclear capabilities from other countries.
But it is ultimately Portugal’s position that the current machinery to nuclear disarmament and the prevention of nuclear proliferation is inadequate. The new policies and machinery must have secure funding and be all inclusive. Portugal is concerned that the current committees involved are not as transparent and open as they need to be. Portugal is amongst the 15 countries rejected from the Conference on Disarmament even though it has applied for 3 consecutive years and been an observer of the conference since its creation in 1993. This presents us with the core of the issue. Without transparency and inclusive organisations or movements there can be no concrete resolutions with solid results and as such would ultimately fail. This is why international co-operation is the single most important action a country can take in nuclear disarmament and the prevention of nuclear proliferation.
Resources:
Alegre, Miguel. “Permanent Mission of Portugal to the UN .” First Committee (disarmament and interna, 27 Oct. 2025, New York
Alegre, Miguel. “Permanent Mission of Portugal to the UN .” First Committee (disarmament and interna, 28 Oct. 2025, New York,
Banmonitor.org/Portugal
icanw.org/portugal
UNGA Resolution 78/26 on «Promotion of multilateralism in the area
of disarmament and non-proliferation»
