NPT review conference fails to address systemic tensions in nuclear governance
Original framing: “UN event on nuclear non-proliferation treaty stumbles, US and Iran clash” — South China Morning Post
The NPT has historically failed to enforce disarmament obligations, leading to repeated cycles of mistrust and non-compliance. Historical parallels include the failure of the League of Nations to prevent conflict and the uneven enforcement of international treaties in the post-colonial era.
The failure of the NPT review conference reflects a systemic breakdown in global nuclear governance, rooted in historical inequities and the lack of trust between nuclear-armed and non-nuclear states.
Indigenous and non-Western perspectives offer alternative frameworks that emphasize relational security and collective well-being over militarization. Scientific evidence and future modeling underscore the urgent need for reform, while the voices of marginalized states highlight the structural biases in current policy. A new multilateral framework, incorporating civil society and alternative security models, is essential to address these systemic challenges and prevent further escalation.