Statement by H.E. Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes, PR of Latvia to the United Nations at UN Security Council Briefing on the 1540 Committee
New York, 16 March 2026
Thank you, Madam President.
We welcome the briefing delivered by the Presidency on the recent activities of the Committee since the last briefing in August.
The non-proliferation architecture has long been a cornerstone of international peace and security. The role of the 1540 Committee has been key in this regard, ensuring that the most dangerous weapons do not end up in the hands of terrorists and other malign actors. It also provides relevant outreach and technical assistance to Member States and other partners.
The risks of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction have become increasingly diffuse as dual-use technologies, synthetic biology, and cyber sabotage, among others, have lowered the threshold for access and weaponization. Unfortunately, in recent years, we have also faced persistent and systematic efforts to weaken and undermine international non-proliferation norms from belligerent state actors.
A prime example of this is the Iranian regime’s opaque pursuit of uranium enrichment to such a degree that defies any possible peaceful purpose, along with a stock of ballistic missiles and cooperation with exactly the sort of terrorist groups that this resolution is meant against. The illegal nuclear programme of the DPRK is another example. And so is the continued irresponsible, dangerous and reckless nuclear rhetoric and threats as part of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, combined with unacceptable use of chemical weapons.
Madam President,
In an environment as tense and complex as this, the constructive work of the Committee remains crucial. Its non-proliferation efforts resonate on a global scale. And we are therefore very pleased to welcome the recent adoption of the Programme of Work for this year. However, this further illustrates the urgent need for all subsidiary bodies of this Council to resume their full operation in order to effectively implement their tasks.
We also commend the pertinent role played by the Panel of Experts of the Committee and strongly urge the Committee to appoint qualified experts to the outstanding vacancies. A fully staffed and capable Panel is of the utmost importance, as we begin work towards a comprehensive review on the status of implementation of resolution 1540. We remind that any efforts to delay, disrupt or otherwise hinder the work of the Committee, especially for political reasons, are worrisome, and undermine trust in the work of this Council. We call on all parties to contribute constructively to the work of the Committee.
Madam President,
All the subsidiary bodies of the Council play their own unique and much-needed role in the global security architecture, and considering the subject matter and scope of the work undertaken by the 1540 Committee, we must support its work as if it were a life-or-death matter, because it quite literally is.
I thank you!