Common Security as a credible alternative to nuclear deterrence

Statement to the 2026 NPT Review Conference on behalf of the World Federalist Movement-Institute for Global Policy

Cosponsored by Aotearoa Lawyers for Peace, Basel Peace Office, Global Security Institute,
Green Hope Foundation, Parliamentarians for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament,
UNFOLD ZERO and World Future Council

Presented by Kehkashan Basu
Co-President, World Federalist Movement-Institute for Global Policy

Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, and colleagues,
My name is Kehkashan Basu, and I speak as the Co-President of the World Federalist Movement-Institute for Global Policy on the topic of Common Security as a credible alternative to nuclear deterrence.

On September 22, 2025, UN Member States adopted by consensus the Pact for the Future, reaffirming that nuclear war would bring devastation to all humankind, that it can never be won and must never be fought, and that every effort must be made to prevent it. It also commits States to advance disarmament and nonproliferation, including the achievement of a nuclear-weapon-free world.

As a young woman who has spent more than a decade advancing disarmament education to lift the veil ofsecrecy surrounding nuclear weapons and raise awareness of the risks they pose, I now see a growing sense of urgency – particularly among younger generations – for security approaches rooted in cooperation,accountability, and shared responsibility.

The pursuit of a nuclear-weapon-free world is grounded in international law, as affirmed by the
International Court of Justice in 1996. We call on NPT States Parties to begin a phased transition away from nuclear deterrence and to initiate negotiations on a mutual, verifiable framework for the global elimination of nuclear weapons no later than 2045.

Nuclear deterrence continues to be viewed as a source of security – including to prevent aggression – yet it sustains risk rather than removing it. Advancing alternative credible approaches to achieving security is essential. In this regard, common security offers a practical framework. It is based on the understanding that lasting security depends on addressing the concerns of all states, including adversaries. It emphasizes diplomacy, negotiation, mediation, and the application of international law to prevent conflict and resolve disputes.

There is already a foundation to build on. Civil society and policy initiatives have identified pathways to
reduce reliance on nuclear deterrence, including strengthening nuclear-weapon-free zones, advancing arms control agreements, and making more effective use of international institutions such as the United Nationsand the International Court of Justice.

Recent global developments underscore the urgency of acting on these approaches. Across multiple
regions, senseless wars and escalating conflicts continue to take lives and deepen insecurity. These
situations persist while diplomatic and legal mechanisms remain underutilized. The UN Charter provides clear avenues for peaceful resolution, including mediation, arbitration, and adjudication. Strengthening these mechanisms, including broader acceptance of the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, is essential to reinforcing a rules-based international order.

In this short presentation I can merely touch on the comprehensive common security ‘tool kit’ available to States to assure security without nuclear deterrence. We will explore this tool kit in more depth in a side event on May 5 entitled Can Common Security replace Nuclear Deterrence? All delegations are invited.