Statement by the Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations, Ambassador Sérgio França Danese, at the General Debate of the 80th UNGA First Committee session - October 10th, 2025

Mr. Chair,

Allow me to congratulate you and the members of the Bureau on your election. Rest assured of Brazil`s cooperation throughout this session.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. Now is also time to reflect on the first and only use of atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and on the subsequent emergence of the nuclear taboo. We must also acknowledge the many achievements of the disarmament and non-proliferation regime, while recognizing the mounting challenges we face.

Throughout the 20th century, the United Nations and its member states established a regime that kept nuclear proliferation in check and promoted oversight of strategic armaments and technologies. Strategic rivals were able to engage in dialogue and establish a certain level of confidence that prevented escalations. The Disarmament Machinery emerged from multilateralism and diplomacy, and the Final Document of the First Special Session on Disarmament (SSOD I) from 1978 still provides us with important guidance.

Over the past decade, at least, the fog of renewed strategic competition has placed this regime under unprecedented strain. Policies that were once considered unacceptable, such as the resumption of explosive testing, the development of new deployment methods and the formation of new nuclear sharing arrangements, are now being treated as viable options. Long-standing arms control commitments have been disregarded, undoing decades of progress and reviving the most destabilizing dynamics of the Cold War nuclear arms race. The unacceptable threat of use of nuclear weapons has become frequent and widespread. 

The latest report by the UN Secretary-General on military spending paints a bleak picture in this regard. In 2024, USD 2.7 trillion was spent on militaries. This represents a 9% increase on the previous year, and the outlook is disheartening. Accelerated militarization is fueling an arms race while crucial resources are being diverted from sustainable development. It is time to set our priorities straight.

Mr. Chair, 

This year's First Committee provides an opportunity to facilitate high-quality discussions on topics such as advancing nuclear disarmament verification, promoting the responsible use of new technologies - particularly artificial intelligence in the military domain - protecting outer space from an arms race, and curbing the illicit transfer of small arms and light weapons. Brazil is ready to engage constructively with all delegations on their proposals, and we also hope to have positive discussions about ours.

Brazil will present two draft resolutions this year. The first, jointly with Norway, concerns the establishment of a Group of Scientific and Technical Experts on Nuclear Disarmament Verification. This proposal is based on numerous previous resolutions, reports from Groups of Governmental Experts, the latest Secretary-General report on NDV, and comprehensive consultations carried out in New York and Geneva. The establishment of this group is important to expand knowledge and expertise on NDV to both nuclear and non-nuclear states. We count on the commitment and support of the delegations.

The second draft resolution is entitled 'A nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere and adjacent areas'. Presented by Brazil, New Zealand, Indonesia, and South Africa, and traditionally supported by numerous member states, it highlights the importance of nuclear-weapon-free zones to the non-proliferation regime. In particular, we support the resolution's call for nuclear-weapon states to adhere to the protocols of nuclear-weapon-free zones, and to withdraw any reservations or interpretative declarations that contradict the objectives of these treaties.

Mr. Chair,

These days, it has become very fashionable to exhort the UN to go back to basics. In light of this, we should remind ourselves that, at the time of its foundation, disarmament was the UN's number one priority, as reflected in the very first UNGA resolution. Avoiding relapse into large-scale conflict remains the organization's primary objective. The emergence and evolution of the disarmament and non-proliferation regime serve these foundational aims. Let us not forget this as we begin the 80th session of the UN General Assembly's First Committee.

Thank you.