Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation
The Fifth Meeting of the International Group of Eminent Persons for a World without Nuclear Weapons (IGEP)
On November 6 and 7, the fifth meeting of the International Group of Eminent Persons for a World without Nuclear Weapons (IGEP) was held online. A total of fourteen members attended the meeting, including Chair SHIRAISHI Takashi, Special Professor of Emeritus of the Prefectural University of Kumamoto, and two other Japanese members, as well as eleven foreign members including those from both nuclear-weapon States and non-nuclear-weapon States.
- For this meeting, Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru sent a written message stating that in the midst of an international climate with increasing division and conflict, he looks forward to receiving recommendations grounded in its sage views and that he would like to contribute to the future of the international community together.
- During the meeting, the IGEP members had discussions focusing on issues such as the importance of norms and ethics surrounding nuclear weapons; strengthening the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)-based Non-Proliferation Regime; and the impact of emerging technologies such as AI on nuclear risks with a view to preparing recommendations to the 2026 NPT Review Conference.
- Regarding the future activities of the IGEP, it was decided in the meeting that the IGEP will hold a sixth meeting by next spring to compile recommendations in the run-up to the 2026 NPT Review Conference.
- Background and Objectives
The IGEP was established in which participants from both nuclear-weapon States and non-nuclear-weapon States, as well as those from countries participating and not participating in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, will exchange ideas and thoughts beyond their respective national positions and engage in candid discussions concerning a concrete path towards the realization of a world without nuclear weapons. Since the first meeting in December 2022, five meetings have been organized.
- 15 Members of the IGEP
[Participated members]
- Shiraishi Takashi (Chair)
- Special Professor of Emeritus, Prefectural University of Kumamoto
- Rose Gottemoeller
- Former U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs
- Takamizawa Nobushige
- Visiting Professor, Graduate School of Public Policy, the University of Tokyo
- George Perkovich
- Vice President for Studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
- Gustavo Zlauvinen
- President of the 10th NPT Review Conference
- Ian Anthony
- Scientist, Department of Defence Analysis, Security Policy Section, Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI)
- Bruno Tertrais
- Deputy Director, Foundation for Strategic Research
- Dina Kawar
- Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the United States
- Muliana Natalegawa
- Former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia
- Manpreet Sethi
- Distinguished Fellow, Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS)
- Akiyama Nobumasa
- Professor, School of International and Public Policy, Hitotsubashi University/Director of Center for Disarmament, Science and Technology, the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA)
- Tanya Ogilvie-White
- Research Director, Asia-Pacific Leadership Network for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (APLN)
- Anton Khlopkov
- Director of Center for Energy and Security Studies (CENESS)
- Tong Zhao
- Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
[Absent]
- Angela Kane
- Former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs of the United Nations