NB8 Statement at the 65th session of the CTBTO Preparatory Commission

Statement by the Nordic and Baltic countries at the 65^th session of the CTBTO Preparatory Commission

November 10-12, 2025

Thank you Chair,

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Nordic and Baltic countries, Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, and my own country Finland. We fully align with the statement delivered by Denmark on behalf of the European Union and would like to make a few additional remarks.

We thank the Executive Secretary for his opening words and for the report on past activities of the organization.

We re-iterate our common unequivocal support to the CTBT and the goal of a world without nuclear tests or other nuclear explosions. We continue to defend the Treaty and the strong norm against nuclear testing that it presents.

We strongly urge all countries to continue to abide by the moratorium on nuclear testing. We support the Executive Secretary’s statement that “any explosive nuclear weapon test by any State would be harmful and destabilizing for global non-proliferation efforts and for international peace and security”.

Mr. Chair,

As the NPT Review Conference is approaching next spring, we would like to take this opportunity to reiterate our support for the NPT Treaty and the global non-proliferation framework. The CTBT plays a crucial role within this framework, and we cannot highlight enough its importance in contributing to international peace and security. We call on all State Signatories to strengthen their efforts in promoting the Treaty’s entry into force. We continue to fully support the work of the Co-Presidents of the Article XIV Conference, Sweden and the Philippines, in promoting the early entry into force.

We deeply regret the Russian Federation’s withdrawal of its ratification of the CTBT. This represents a clear step in the wrong direction in terms of the universalization and entry into force of the Treaty. We call on all the Annex 2 states, who have not yet done so, to sign and ratify the CTBT.

We re-iterate our call on the DPRK to refrain from all nuclear testing. Any attempts of the DPRK to advance its nuclear programme is in clear violation of several United Nations Security Council resolutions.

We once again call on the DPRK to undertake complete, verifiable and irreversible disarmament of nuclear weapons, and to cease all nuclear and ballistic missile related activities.

Mr. Chair,

Peaceful cooperation and respect for international law are cornerstones of multilateralism. We once again recall that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is a blatant violation of international law, including the UN Charter. Russia’s actions continue to undermine the principles of multilateralism, including in the CTBT. Our countries continue to support the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

Mr. Chair,

The Nordic and Baltic countries attach great value to the effectiveness of the International Monitoring System. It is crucial to ensure the sustainment of the IMS system. We thank the Provisional Technical Secretariat for their thorough preparation for the discussions and presenting different financing scenarios aimed at predictable IMS sustainment.

While we understand State Signatories’ requests to find further savings and efficiencies in the budget, we call on prioritizing the functioning of the IMS. The IMS is a truly unique and indispensable system. Its ability to detect nuclear weapon test explosions around the world is a valuable global public good. It is our shared interest to maintain its functioning at the highest possible level. We call for the allocation of adequate resources to do so.

Mr. Chair,

We welcome the consensus in the previous Session on appointing the external auditor to the organization. We thank the Chair of the PrepCom and the Chair of the Working Group A for their efforts in guiding the State Signatories to a consensus decision on this matter.

Finally, allow me to draw your attention to the 30^th anniversary year of the CTBT. The international advances made under the CTBT deserve to be noted and celebrated. As outlined by the Executive Secretary in his speech launching the anniversary year: we have “one treaty, one goal, zero tests”. The NB8’s commitment to this goal is steadfast, and we call upon all states to commit to the goal as well.

Thank you.