Ambassador Raimonds Oškalns chairs first CTBTO Preparatory Commission meeting in 2026

Ambassador Raimonds Oškalns, Permanent Representative of Latvia to the United Nations, OSCE and other international organizations in Vienna, has successfully chaired his first meeting of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) since assuming the role of Chairperson for 2026.

The meeting took place from 15 to 16 June 2026 and was the first of two sessions of the Preparatory Commission scheduled for this year. The second session will take place from 25 to 27 November 2026.

This marks an important milestone for Latvia, as it is the first time a Latvian representative has held this high-level position. Ambassador Oškalns was elected unanimously on 11 November 2025 by all 187 States Signatories of the Commission.

In his opening remarks, the Chairperson expressed his appreciation for the constructive engagement of States Signatories in preparation of the meeting and emphasized the importance of unity and cooperation in advancing the objectives of the Treaty. He underlined that the CTBTO and its verification regime remain cornerstones of the global disarmament and non-proliferation architecture. States Signatories reaffirmed their strong support for the CTBTO and its verification regime, comprising the International Monitoring System, the International Data Centre and On-Site Inspections. They also adopted decisions on several key appointments and held substantive discussions on the budget update.

“The effective functioning of the CTBTO Preparatory Commission is essential for maintaining its unique verification capabilities. I am committed to working closely with all States Signatories, the Executive Secretary and the Provisional Technical Secretariat to promote the goals of the Treaty and to strengthen international efforts towards a world free of nuclear testing,” Ambassador Oškalns stated.

The year 2026 is particularly significant, marking the 30th anniversary of the opening for signature of the CTBT in 1996 and the 25th anniversary of Latvia’s ratification of the Treaty in 2001, reaffirming Latvia’s longstanding commitment to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

Background information

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) prohibits nuclear tests and any other nuclear explosions – above ground, underground, in the atmosphere and underwater. The global norm against nuclear testing limits the uncontrolled development and spread of nuclear weapons, and prevents the environmental and humanitarian risks that result from nuclear explosions.

The treaty was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1996 but has not yet entered into force, as it has not been ratified by certain states possessing significant nuclear capabilities. The CTBTO Preparatory Commission, headquartered in Vienna, is responsible for establishing the verification regime of the Treaty, including the International Monitoring System (IMS) and the International Data Centre (IDC). These capabilities ensure that the international community is able to detect and analyse any nuclear explosion worldwide. The Commission includes all 187 states that have signed the treaty.

The technical resources created by the organization are already providing significant scientific and civilian contributions. In order to continuously monitor possible nuclear explosions anywhere in the world, the International Monitoring System has been established, with 337 data collection stations and laboratories worldwide. The system includes four complementary technologies: seismic stations that detect vibrations in the Earth's crust; hydroacoustic sensors that detect sound waves in the oceans; infrasound sensors that record low-frequency sound waves in the atmosphere; and radionuclide stations that identify radioactive particles released in nuclear explosions. In addition to its verification functions, the IMS also provides valuable data for civilian and scientific purposes, for example, by supporting tsunami early warning systems and earthquake monitoring.

In Latvia, the Treaty entered into force on 28 June 2001. It has been ratified by all the Member States of the European Union.

Photo: Pablo Mehlhorn, CTBTO