The Philippines has conveyed its continued support to global efforts to achieve a nuclear weapons-free world, stressing that "there is no room" for backsliding amid geopolitical complexities.

In her remarks at the Ministerial Meeting of the Friends of the Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT) during the 80th Session United Nations General Assembly, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro affirmed the country's rejection of nuclear weapons.

She stressed that "nothing could ever justify the use of nuclear weapons" and that "nuclear weapons have no place in a peaceful world."

Lazaro, however, lamented that outdated security strategy concepts based on nuclear deterrence continue to drive policy in many countries.

"In the Asia-Pacific region, we are seeing the rapid expansion of nuclear arsenals, against the spirit of the Non Proliferation Treaty and the incomplete gains achieved in nuclear disarmament in the past decades," she cited.

The DFA chief pointed out that the threat of use of nuclear weapons intensifies current strategic competition and protracted conflicts in Europe, the Middle East, South and East Asia.

Thus, she underscored that existing commitments to nuclear disarmament must be upheld.

"These geopolitical complexities, more so, demand immense collective effort to achieve a nuclear weapons-free world. Existing commitments to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation must be upheld. There is no room for backsliding," Lazaro said.

Lazaro also stressed that the finalization and entry into force of a multilateral, non-discriminatory, and effectively verifiable FMCT "are both critical and urgent."

Lazaro emphasized that the adoption of such a treaty would result in the restricted production and dismantling of fissile material to limit the expansion of nuclear weapons stockpiles.

The DFA chief said the Philippines will continue to support resolutions calling for an FMCT regularly tabled in the First Committee of the UN General Assembly in New York.

"The Philippines also calls on world leaders to throw support behind the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva. This is to ensure that efforts to draft and negotiate an FMCT meaningfully move forward," Lazaro said.

"We encourage States to demonstrate commitment by implementing unilateral moratoria on construction of additional facilities for uranium enrichment and plutonium separation for military use," she added.

According to Lazaro, FMCT is crucial in bringing the world nearer to an enduring arms control and disarmament architecture — complementing landmark instruments such as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear weapons, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

"The pursuit of complete, irreversible, and verifiable nuclear disarmament is a responsibility we ought to see through until it is realized. The future generations deserve no less," Lazaro said.