Statement by the Foreign Minister
Adoption of the Draft Resolution on the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons submitted by Japan to the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly
(Statement by Foreign Minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu)
October 28, 2026
- On October 28 (October 27, local time), the draft resolution entitled “Common steps towards a world without nuclear weapons,” submitted by the Government of Japan to the First Committee of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York, was adopted with the support of 150 countries.
- Japan submitted this draft resolution, in light of this year’s convening of the Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which serves as the cornerstone of the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation architecture, and under the recognition that it is extremely important for the international community to overcome the differences in positions on nuclear disarmament, reaffirm the importance of the NPT regime and steadily advance steps towards the realization of a world without nuclear weapons. The resolution calls on the international community to implement practical efforts towards nuclear disarmament, in areas that Japan attaches importance to, such as enhancing the transparency of nuclear armaments, reducing nuclear risks, promoting dialogue among nuclear-weapon States, pursuing qualitative and quantitative nuclear disarmament and improving the understanding of the realities of the atomic bombings, and aims to provide a foundation for future international efforts on nuclear disarmament.
- Against the backdrop of an increasingly severe and complex international security environment, and deepening divisions within the international community over nuclear disarmament, the adoption of this draft resolution, which proposes realistic and practical efforts, with broad support from states holding various positions, including both nuclear-weapon States and non-nuclear-weapon States, is of great significance.
- Through this draft resolution, Japan, as the only country to have ever suffered atomic bombing during war, seeks to persistently and steadily advance efforts toward nuclear disarmament in the international community towards the realization of a world without nuclear weapons.
(Reference1)Results of the voting for the adoption of the draft resolution
- Affirmative votes: 150
- Negative votes: 7
- Abstentions: 25
(Reference2)
This draft resolution is scheduled to be put to vote at the UN General Assembly in early December, and upon its adoption, it will become an official UN General Assembly resolution.
