The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) issued a statement on Tuesday, April 21, criticizing the nuclear weapons policies of Russia and China, and calling on both countries to cooperate with the United States at an upcoming international conference to improve the stability and transparency of nuclear arms control.
According to Reuters, the statement was released by NATO’s political decision-making body, the North Atlantic Council. In it, all 32 member states reaffirmed their firm commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which has been in force since 1970 and is widely regarded as a cornerstone of the global arms control system.
The United Nations will hold a regular review conference on the implementation of the NPT next week at its headquarters in New York. The meeting is drawing significant attention amid rising geopolitical tensions, including the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, as well as military actions by the United States and Israel against Iran this year, all of which have heightened concerns over nuclear security.
In its statement, NATO said Russia is violating key arms control commitments and issuing irresponsible nuclear threats. It also accused China of rapidly expanding and dispersing its nuclear arsenal without sufficient transparency.
NATO Assistant Secretary General Boris Ruge said in an interview that Russia has twice used the nuclear-capable “Oreshnik” intermediate-range ballistic missile in Ukraine, describing it as another example of Moscow sending irresponsible nuclear signals.
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The statement further emphasized that NATO members strongly support U.S. efforts to promote multilateral strategic stability and urged relevant countries to cooperate in reducing nuclear risks and preventing further escalation.
