UN Transcripts — https://transcripts.un.org/en/sc/10122 Non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction - Security Council, 10122nd meeting — Security Council — 16 March 2026 Language: en Automatically generated transcript — may contain errors. Not an official United Nations record. --- China [0:00]: Women enjoy equal rights in all areas, including education, healthcare, employment and public life. We hope that the Afghan government will act in the fundamental interests of its people, enabling Afghan women and girls to truly become beneficiaries, builders and contributors to the country's development and revitalization, thereby creating favorable conditions for Afghanistan's further integration into the international community. Fourth, the the resolution emphasizes that terrorist organizations operating in Afghanistan remain a threat to international peace and security and that Afghan territory must not be used to harbor or support any form of terrorist activity. We urge the Afghan government to take more resolute and forceful measures, in accordance with Council resolutions to combat all terrorist forces, including the isis, K Al Qaeda, the etim, TTP and the bla. The resolution also expresses deep concern over the continued civilian casualties caused by explosive remnants of war in Afghanistan and calls on the international community to provide greater support for mine clearance projects in Afghanistan. President Although the Security Council did not, as in customary, extend UNAMA's mandate by one year on this occasion, this in no way implies any wavering in its support for UNAMA and the Afghan people. Considering the desire of some Council members to make appropriate adjustments to Yunama's mandate, the Council has decided to extend the mandate by three months to ensure sufficient time for serious discussions and the adoption of a responsible decision. China is willing to listen extensively to the views of all parties on this matter over the next three months and to promote consensus and agreements among Council members. At the same time, I would like to emphasize that that the goal of adjusting the mandate is to strengthen, not weaken, the road of Yunama so as to better advance a political solution to the Afghanistan issue and help Afghanistan achieve stability and development. China stands ready to work with all parties to make active effort towards this end. I thank you. SC · President [2:21]: I thank the representative of China. I give the floor to the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Democratic Republic of the Congo · A3 [2:32]: Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, I have the honor of delivering this statement on behalf of the A3, namely Liberia, Somalia and my own country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The A3 voted in favor of the resolution renewing the UNAMA mandate. We commend the constructive spirit that prevailed among Council members throughout negotiations and we commend the co penholders on their efforts to facilitate consensus. We are talking about a three month renewal. However, the A3 eagerly awaits the complete renewal of UNAMA's mandate next June. The renewal of UNAMA's mandate reflects the continued commitment of the Council to supporting the Afghan people and to overcoming the humanitarian, economic and security challenges that the country is facing These are complex in nature. The A3 reiterates their support for the essential role played by UNAMA as well as for its continued presence on the ground. The mission remains an important platform for the coordination of international engagement and assistance, as well as to support efforts aimed at promoting stability and sustainable development in Afghanistan. The A3 recognize the importance of compliance with fundamental rights and freedoms of all Afghan people, including those of women and girls. These must be upheld. Their full, equal and meaningful participation in society will make it possible to guarantee long term stability and development in Afghanistan. We also emphasize the need to ensure that UNAMA is in a position to fully discharge its mandate effectively, namely by guaranteeing safe and unfettered access for UN personnel and their partners. In conclusion, we reaffirm our commitment to working alongside Security Council members and international partners to support efforts to promote peace, security, stability and development in Afghanistan. I thank you. SC · President [4:47]: I thank the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I give the floor to to the representative of the Russian Federation. Russian Federation [4:58]: Mr. President, the Russian Federation voted in favor of the Security Council resolution extending the mandate of Yunam for a three month period. We welcome the efforts undertaken by the Chinese penholders on the Afghan dossier with a view to finding compromise based ways forward. The outcome is a collective product stressing support for the Afghan people in building a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan free from terrorism and narcotic drugs. The main thing is UNAMA's mandate remains unchanged, which will allow the mission to continue its activities in Afghanistan in full, in particular against the backdrop of a tense environment in the region. Having said that, we believe that Yunama will pay equal attention to implementing its political and its humanitarian economic tasks. We're delighted that this time around the text reflects elements geared towards the economic development of Afghanistan which should lay the foundation for the self reliance of the Afghan state. We'd like to in particular emphasize the fact that the resolution includes a call for the Secretary General to appoint a new head of UNAMA in a timely fashion. In our view, when looking for the best candidate, the SG should consult not only Security Council members, but also factor in the opinion of the Afghan authorities themselves. At the end of the day, the effective implementation of UNAMA's mission will hinge on the consent of said authorities. Mr. President, today's decision taken by the Security Council is not only an expression of our support for unama, but sends a clear signal to the people of Afghanistan as regards the international community's commitment to establishing peace and stability in this long suffering country. Having said that, we believe we need a predictable operation that is predictable work by unama. The imperative was and is ongoing pragmatic cooperation of the mission with the Afghan authorities so as to discuss all issues in strict compliance with the tasks assigned to the mission. What's of priority importance is the ability of UNAMA to discharge its humanitarian assistance coordination duties, helping the groups most in need first and foremost. This is particularly important given the fact that the issue of frozen assets hasn't been resolved, nor has that of the unprecedented unilateral sanctions. We stand convinced that long term peace in Afghanistan is impossible unless we have a realistic approach aimed at subsequent international reintegration of Afghanistan. The basis of such reintegration is an objective and carefully calibrated assessment as well as patient dialogue with the Afghan authorities. There is no alternative to this path, nor has there ever been. This is what UNAMA successfully implementing the tasks assigned to it depends on. I thank you. SC · President [8:25]: I thank the representative of the Russian Federation. I give the floor to the representative of Pakistan. Pakistan [8:33]: Thank you, Mr. President. Pakistan has voted in favor of the resolution just adopted extending UNAMA's mandate by three months. Pakistan supports UNAMA in promoting peace, security and stability in Afghanistan, which confronts multiple challenges, particularly the increasing threat of terrorism, human rights violations, narcotics trafficking and diminishing humanitarian aid. We commend China for its sterling role as penholder and for its sincere efforts to forge consensus by taking on board the concern of all Council members. We welcome the unanimous adoption of this resolution, Mr. President. Pakistan has consistently asserted that the foremost amongst the challenges faced in Afghanistan is the deteriorating security situation and exponential rise in the threat of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan. Elements within the Taliban regime are actively collaborating, let alone providing a permissive environment to several terrorist groups such as the ttp, BLA and Majid Brigade, isilk, Al Qaeda and etim, operating with impunity inside Afghanistan and responsible for cross border attacks against Pakistani civilians and law enforcement personnel targeting critical infrastructure and public places. Through this resolution, the Council has expressed serious concern over the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, which I quote, continue to constitute a threat to international peace and security. It has called on the Taliban, I quote, to take active, immediate, demonstrable and concrete measures to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomever committed. Through this resolution, the Council also outlines its expectations to strengthen the safe and secure management of weapons and ammunition to prevent their diversion to terrorist groups. President as mandated, UNAMA has a responsibility to effectively monitor and analyze the security dynamics across the country that include a better understanding of the illicit economy, supporting efforts to prevent and address the illicit trade and destabilizing accumulation of small arms and light weapons and their diversion in Afghanistan and the region and supporting efforts to create conditions conducive to the reintegration of refugee population in Afghanistan. We must also remain cautious of disinformation advanced by local Taliban elements who continue to create obstacles for access to UNAMA personnel across the country. At the same time, we hope UNAMA will report objectively about the security developments on ground by taking into account the legitimate security concerns and expectations of Afghanistan's immediate neighbors who are faced with serious threats from Afghan soil. Finally, we Hope the next three months will allow us to review UNAMA's role in Afghanistan in a manner that will help us achieve the long term goals of peace and stability in Afghanistan that is at peace with itself and its neighbors. I thank you. SC · President [11:48]: I thank the representative of Pakistan. I give the floor to the representative of Bahrain. Bahrain [12:00]: Mr. President, at the outset, the Kingdom of Bahrain would like to thank China as the penholder for their efforts to prepare the draft resolution on renewing the mandate of unama. And we thank them for consulting with the members of the Council to reach a consensual draft that would guarantee the continuation of the work of Yunama. Mr. President, the kingdom of Bahrain voted in favor of this resolution to renew the mandate for three additional months because we believe it's important for Yunama to continue to carry out its functions during this period and given how important its role is in coordinating international efforts when it comes to Afghanistan and to support response to developments at the political and security and economic levels in the country. The Kingdom of Bahrain believes that this renewal will allow the members of the Security Council to strengthen their support to Yunama so that we can support its work and enable it to carry out its functions effectively so that it can continue to support the Afghan people and meet their basic needs in a way that would guarantee the implementation of its mandate in an effective manner. The Kingdom of Bahrain stresses the need to continue with our international efforts in order to support security and stability in Afghanistan in a way that maintains its sovereignty, territorial integrity and meets the aspiration of the Afghan people. I thank you, Mr. President. SC · President [13:45]: I thank the representative of Bahrain for the statement. I give the floor to the representative of France. France [13:55]: Mr. President. France welcomes the three month extension of the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. Unama. We thank China for its work to facilitate this adoption. France reiterates its full support for unama. The Mission's work on the ground in service of the Afghan people is of crucial importance in accordance with the mandate that the Council has entrusted to the mission. The mission guarantees coordination and delivery of humanitarian aid throughout the country. The mission is responsible for facilitating political dialogue between all Afghan stakeholders and for protecting and promoting human rights. Since taking power by force almost five years ago, the Taliban have violated their international obligations and imposed a policy of systematic persecution of women and girls. Against this backdrop, the UNAMA must continue the implementation of its mandate in its entirety, all the facets thereof. This Council cannot abandon the Afghan people. Mr. President, our commitment must continue to guarantee compliance with the resolution setting forth the international community's demands where the Taliban are concerned. We hope that the discussions which will be held over the next three months will allow this Council to reach consensus regarding the lasting renewal of the missions mandate. We owe just that to the Afghan people. Thank you. SC · President [15:13]: I thank the representative of France for the statement. I give the floor to the representative of latvia. Latvia [15:23]: Thank you, Mr. President. We thank the penholder China for their dedicated and constructive approach to ensuring that this important mandate continues. Let me also take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to the staff of unama. Their dedication and hard work are invaluable and should not be taken for granted. Let me fully support the renewal of UNAMA's mandate and voted in favor of its extension for three months. Although our strong preference was to extend the existing mandate for one year, the current human rights mandate of UNAMA is comprehensive and robust. We especially value the role of UNAMA in defending women's and girls rights and engagement with afghan women's organizations. UNAMA's work in monitoring and reporting on human rights violations, including on violations and abuses against children, is crucial at a time when women and girls have lost almost all of their basic rights and freedoms since the Taliban took control. Judicially sanctioned corporal punishment, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearance, torture, attacks on the media and civil society, and discrimination of ethnic and religious minorities. Only some of the widespread abuses carried out under Taliban rule. UNAMA is also uniquely positioned as the main UN actor, providing outreach and political good offices on the ground and facilitating dialogue between all relevant Afghan political actors and stakeholders. Its role in coordinating and facilitating humanitarian assistance is essential, as is the promotion of responsible governance and the rule of law. Latvia has no doubt a continued strong UN field presence in Afghanistan is vital. The coming three months will allow the Council to thoroughly reassess the mandate of the mission. But let us be absolutely clear. We remain committed to ensuring that UNAMA has a strong, credible and robust mandate. I thank you. SC · President [17:24]: I thank the representative of Latvia for the statement. I give the floor to the representative of Greece. Greece [17:33]: Thank you, Mr. President. Greece welcomes the adoption of this resolution and thanks the penholder China for their work. Greece voted in favor of the resolution, reiterating our unwavering support to UNAMA and its mandate in its entirety. In this regard, we echo the support for the swift appointment of a new Special representative of the Secretary General to head UNAMA. Mr. President, Greece appreciates UNAMA's invaluable contribution to the coordination of humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan, the promotion of human rights and the rule of law, as well as the good offices it provides to facilitate dialogue between the international community and the Taliban. Unama's role is particularly important given the violations of human rights in Afghanistan, especially women's rights, culminating in the ban on education for girls beyond the sixth grade and the ban on Afghan women UN employees for accessing UN premises. Greece reiterates its condemnation of these practices and calls on the Taliban to immediately reverse them. At the same time, the present mandate highlights the importance of concrete measures and strengthened efforts that the Taliban need to undertake immediately to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, the need for disaster risk reduction to address the impacts of natural disasters such as floods, droughts and heat waves and the frequent level of civilian casualties, particularly children from explosive ordinance incidents, pointing to the need of supporting the Mine Action program in Afghanistan. Mr. President, we remain committed to working with our fellow Security Council members for the continuation and the retention of UNAMA's strong mandate also beyond June 2026. I thank you. SC · President [19:41]: I thank the representative of Greece for the statement. I give the floor to the representative of the United Kingdom. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [19:49]: Thank you, President. I also extend our gratitude to China for their work as penholder on this text. Colleagues, the United Kingdom is pleased. The Council has unanimously agreed the renewal of UNAMA's important mandate. This includes new language calling on the Taliban to reverse its latest restrictions against women and girls, including the Decree on the Criminal Rules of Courts and the ongoing ban on Afghan women accessing UN premises. We reiterate our call on the Taliban to heed this Council's collective demands. As DSRSG Gagnon set out last week, UNAMA is continuing its vital work to coordinate and facilitate humanitarian efforts, promote the rights of all Afghans, including women and girls, and advance a political pathway to help achieve an Afghanistan at peace with itself and its neighbours and meeting its international obligations. We commend unama's unwavering persistence within an increasingly complex context and in spite of the Taliban's ongoing intransitiveness. While the Taliban's repression and restrictions on women and girls continue. The United Kingdom will remain steadfast in our support for the retention of UNAMA's important human rights functions, including and in particular the promotion of gender equality and the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women in all levels and stages of decision making over the next three months. We look forward to working together with all Council members to agree the scope of UNAMA's future mandate and to ensure the UN's continued presence on the ground. Thank you. SC · President [21:39]: I thank the representative of the United Kingdom for the statement. I give the floor to the representative of Panama. Panama [21:48]: Gracias. Thank you, Mr. President. Panama is grateful to the delegation of China for their leadership and equanimous work during the process to prepare this resolution. Panama voted in favour of this resolution because we are of the view that the presence of the United nations in Afghanistan continues to remain paramount, particularly at this juncture and under current circumstances. With that in mind, we cannot, however, ignore the fact that the reduction of the renewal period for the mandate from one year to three months could be wrongly interpreted as a calling into question of the missions mandate and the stability of its presence. As such, it is of the utmost importance that the Council bring the greatest possible degree of clarity to the scope and goals of any renewal of the mandate considered. We must bear in mind that the opportunity to renew a mandate. It is something that must be used to look at whether you renew a mandate for one year or three months. What we've just done could sow uncertainty among the mission personnel. They undertake their work in conditions that are already highly complex. The Council has decided to leave room for mandate renewal. However, this discussion must be conducted in lucid terms and within a reasonable time frame. It is fundamental that we define without delay the elements which we're looking to review in any review, so that we reduce uncertainty and so that we preserve the mission's capacity to operate in a regional context, which is increasingly fragile and facing persistent challenges related to terrorism, the humanitarian crisis and the human rights situation, particular that of women and girls. The work of UNAMA remains of vital importance that as such, we reiterate our appeal to the Taliban to lift the restrictions which prevent Afghan women from working in the premises of the United Nations. This is a measure which is incompatible with the organization and one which stymies the mission's ability to discharge its mandate. The mission plays a vital role not only in terms of facilitating political dialogue with the de facto authorities, but also in terms of ensuring that the international community remains duly informed regarding the evolution of the situation in the country. We hope that the appointment of the new Special Representative of the Secretary General will occur forthwith so that we can offer the mission the capacity it requires to continue its work. The United nations cannot afford the luxury of losing the few windows that exist to make progress across the three pillars of the organized work international peace and security, human rights and development. Panama fully supports the efforts taken to modernize the Council's work and indeed that of the United nations system. However, any review must be rooted in reality on the ground, particularly in a context which is a challenge, challenging as that in Afghanistan. President, the world outside of this chamber is moving forward at breakneck speed. We need to adapt to that very fact. However, respect for the organization's fundamental principles must remain non negotiable. Thank you. SC · President [25:49]: I thank the representative of Panama for the statement. I give the floor to the representative of denmark. Denmark [25:58]: Thank you, Mr. President. We also thank the Pentola China for their efforts. Denmark voted in favor of today's resolution to renew the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and ensure its continued presence on the ground. Afghanistan continues to confront a profound humanitarian and human rights crisis, with women and girls, minorities and other vulnerable groups bearing the heaviest burden. In this challenging context, UNAMA remains indispensable. Its mandate is essential for providing information and analysis about the situation in Afghanistan, for maintaining dialogue with the Taliban, and for coordinating international efforts, including humanitarian assistance and human rights monitoring, reporting and advocacy. Denmark commends UNAMIS vital work in monitoring and reporting on human rights violations, not the least those targeting women and girls. Nowhere is this work more necessary than in Afghanistan, where women and girls continue to be systematically deprived of their most fundamental rights. Denmark therefore welcomes that. The resolution includes updates on recent developments, such as the continued ban of Afghan female UN staff and the Decree on the Criminal Rules of Courts. The message is the Taliban must immediately reverse all policies that restrict women from exercising their fundamental rights, including access to education, employment, health care, justice and participation in society. They must also allow UN female staff to return to the workplaces. The UN must be able to carry out its mandate without constraints and benefit from the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in its work. While Denmark would have preferred a longer renewal to provide greater predictability for the mission and its staff, this extension nevertheless demonstrates the Council continued commitment to the Afghan people and to UNAMA's presence in Afghanistan. Looking ahead, it's vital that UNAMA will continue to receive the full and unified support of the Security Council, together with a mandate that enables it to operate effectively, engage all relevant actors, monitor and report on human rights and assist international efforts to address the urgent needs of the Afghan people. We look forward to working constructively with the Council members on this end. Thank you. SC · President [28:32]: I thank the representative of Denmark for the statement. I give the floor to the representative of Colombia. Colombia [28:42]: Gracias. Thank you, Mr. President. Allow me to begin by thanking China as penholder for the way that they steered the negotiations and for presenting a balance text, a text which made it possible to garner consensus around the extension of the missions mandate, that is the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, unama. My delegation notes with regret that the mandate's extension was not for 12 months. That was the preference of the majority of Council members. Colombia remains ready and willing to constructively discuss over the coming months the tasks entrusted to unama. By way of reinforcing our commitment to the mission's work that seeks to heed the need of the Afghan people. We'd like to point particularly to the role UNAMA plays in terms of facilitating dialogue and its good offices. It monitors and promotes human rights. It promotes resilience and economic stability, and we note its support for the coordination of humanitarian assistance. We are gravely concerned yet again at the human rights situation in Afghanistan, particularly in view of the systematic restrictions, restrictions that continue to affect women and girls. The exclusion of women from public life, education and employment are grave violations of their fundamental rights and these restrictions undermine the foundations of a just and inclusive society. The persistence of gender based violence fuels cycles of violence and marginalization. It limits the full participation of women in social, economic and political life in Afghanistan and impedes efforts to build a lasting peace and to strengthen social cohesion. Precisely for these reasons, it is vital that UNAMA continue to fully discharge its mandate, including the monitoring and promotion of human rights and the support for efforts aimed to ensure inclusive governance. Finally, by way of conclusion, we wish to underscore the pivotal coordination work, more specifically the work the mission does to coordinate humanitarian assistance. The growing humanitarian needs of the Afghan people lay bare the urgent need to continue advocating for financing commensurate with the population's current needs. Colombia reiterates its support for the continuation of UNAMA's work and the continuation of the work of the UN system more broadly in Afghanistan. That work is vital to support the Afghan people in the face of the multidimensional crisis besetting the country. Thank you, Mr. President. SC · President [31:51]: Thank the representative of Colombia for the statement. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of the United States States. United States of America [32:01]: United States expresses appreciation to the penholder and our other fellow council members for their constructive dialogue in renewing this mandate. Colleagues, as we heard from unama's leadership last week, the Taliban continues to prevent Afghan female staff from entering UN premises across the country. This and other constraints impede UNAMAS ability to address the humanitarian and economic crisis that the Taliban's own policies continue to inflict on the people of Afghanistan. By extending UNAMA's mandate for three months. Today, this Council has the opportunity to ensure that UNAMA will be fit for purpose, including giving due consideration to the funds we collectively provide for this mission's budget. We recognize that unama's dedicated staff is doing important work under difficult and often dangerous conditions. This includes unama's valuable reporting which informs this Council's decisions on Afghanistan, as well as its efforts to help address the widespread humanitarian crisis and promote peace through dialogue. We look forward to working with other Council members between now and June 17th to find ways to streamline this mission's mandate, remove functions that duplicate other efforts or that cannot be carried out in the current environment, and ensure that UNAMA is mandated to carry out activities that contribute directly to advancing peace and security in Afghanistan and the region. I thank you. I resume my function as President of the Council. SC · President [33:56]: There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. The meeting is adjourned. Speaker 27 [35:00]: Radio. It's. It. SC · President [36:44]: Okay. The 10 122nd meeting of the Security Council is called to order. The provisional agenda for this meeting is non proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The agenda is adopted. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of item 2 of the Agenda, pending the election of the Chairs and Vice Chairs of subsidiary bodies and following the understanding reached among Council members in this regard, I have the honor to report the Security Council work on the Committee established pursuant to Resolution 1540. I am pleased to report on progress made since the last briefing on August 6, 2025. Since that briefing, the Committee continued its activities in accordance with its mandate, supporting and monitoring national implementation, providing assistance to Member States, cooperation with international, regional and sub regional organizations, as well as transparency and outreach. In 2025, the Committee participated in 26 outreach events on the implementation of the Resolution 1540 at National, Sub regional, regional and international levels. In accordance with paragraph 26 of resolution 2663, the committee convened its second open briefing for Member States and international, regional and sub regional organizations in October 2025. In total, 42 member states and nine international, regional and sub regional organizations made statements during the briefing. The Committee continued to undertake initiatives to strengthen the capacity of national points of contact for Resolution 1540, including through Regional training and programs. The Committee co hosted, in cooperation with Panama with the Office of Disarmament Affairs, a training course for points of contact in the Latin American and Caribbean region in Panama City. In December last year, the Committee approved its first voluntary Technical Reference Guide in accordance with paragraph 13 of resolution 2663 and made it available on the Committee's website. This guide relates to paragraph 3D of resolution 1540 regarding the obligations to establish, develop, review and maintain appropriate effective national export controls. The Committee also developed a multi year program of outreach to States as requested by the Security council in paragraph 24 of the resolution, and made it available on the Committee's website in accordance with paragraph 17 of the resolution. The Committee continued to periodically review, as appropriate, the role, efficiency and effectiveness of the Committee's mechanism for matching offers and requests for assistance, including by sending correspondence to 11 member states that had made a match making assistance request prior to January 2022. The aim of this correspondence was to ensure that the Committee is aware of any possible further assistance requirements related to fully matching these requests. In 2025, 23 member states provided updates on their national points of contact this year. Until now, six additional States provided updates and one Member State nominated its point of contact for the first time, bringing the total number of member states with 1540 points of contact to 157. In accordance with paragraph 3 of resolution 2663, the Committee will conduct a comprehensive review on the status of implementation of Resolution 1540 by December 2027. The Committee therefore started the discussion on the 2027 comprehensive review process in this context. During December 2025, the Committee adopted a modalities paper that will serve as a guide for the 2027 comprehensive review process. The agreed modalities paper has been published on the Committee's website. Preparations for the 2027 comprehensive review include, among others, the updating of the 1540 committee matrices, which reflect national implementation information on measures adopted by each UN Member State in fulfillment of their obligations. While work on updating the 1540 committee matrices has already commenced, the Committee sent correspondence to Member States encouraging them to submit reports and updated information on national implementation before the end of May 2026. In the context of the comprehensive review process, I would also like to draw the Council's attention to the work of the 1540 group of experts. The Group is now operating with only six experts, with three vacancies remaining under consideration by the 1540 committee. In order to ensure that the Committee support structure is fully resourced, especially in the view of the ongoing 2027 comprehensive review the Committee underlines the importance of filling the vacancies in its Group of Experts. Looking forward, the Committee will continue its work under the adopted 22nd program of work of the Committee covering the period from February 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027. This includes a comprehensive list of the Committee's planned activities to support full implementation of the requirements of Resolution 1540 by all Member States. In closing, I wish to express my appreciation to the Committee members for their efforts in support of the Committee's work and to the Group of Experts, officials in un, ODA and DPPA for their invaluable support to the Committee. Thank you. I now give the floor to those Council members who wish to make statements. I give the floor to the representative of Panama. Panama [43:51]: Gracias. Thank you. Madam President. We are grateful for the convening of this briefing of the 1540 committee. It allows us to ensure that this this resolution remains both relevant and visible. The resolution is one of the vital components of the multilateral non proliferation system. We reiterate that compliance with the 1540 mandate is vital in order to preserve collective security and in order to avoid non state actors from accessing weapons of mass destruction. As such, Panama remains staunchly committed to the full implementation of Resolution 1540, both in its national capacity, as we were during our chairmanship of the committee in 2025. Moreover, we wish to convey our hearty thanks to the Department of Political and Peace Building affairs and to the Office of Disarmament Affairs. We also thank the Group of Experts. We thank them all for their commitment and the administrative and technical support provided that support allowed us to reach important milestones during our 2025 chairmanship. At the same time, we are compelled to indicate that in spite of these achievements, we believe it to be a source of great regret that the Committee was not able to fully begin its work until May of 2025. That gave rise to major challenges in terms of sticking to the timeline we had agreed upon. Moreover, we note that we are now in the third month of 2026 and continue to await the confirmation of subsidiary bodies. In spite of the challenges produced by the state of gridlock within subsidiary bodies, Panama remains fully under unwaveringly committed to the stability, continuity and total resumption of the Committee's work. President, allow me now to discuss where things currently stand with the committee. 2026 is a strategic year. You indicated just that in your report. This year must stand as a platform to allow us to prepare fully for the comprehensive review of 2027. That review will be decisive in terms of estab the Committee's roadmap to run till 2032 and it will be a vital platform to allow us to assess rigorously progress and shortcomings in the resolution's implementation. To fully perform that work, the Committee must absolutely have a complete group of experts. A group of experts which is also fully operational, in stable and which enjoys adequate resources. It is only with such a group of experts that we can guarantee that the information submitted by Member States be analyzed with the technical rigor and scrutiny required. In a global environment marked by rapid technological progress, the proliferation of dual use capacities and the growing transfer of intangible or intangible transfer rather of knowledge, the international community cannot afford to let up. The effectiveness of Resolution 1540 depends directly on the Committee functioning at an expeditious pace, predictably and with sufficient technical capacity. In this same vein, Panama wishes to underscore the importance of ensuring that the Committee continues to function stably and at an even pace. It must have a program of work which is implemented smoothly and with ongoing dialogue with Member States. We commend the fact that in February 2026 we adopted such a program of work by consensus. We thank all Committee members for their cooperation in that regard. Panama has advocated for practical cooperation as the lodestar of the Committee's work. We've had such cooperation, particularly with Latin America and the Caribbean. There significant progress has been made, but challenges remain persist. Challenges which require continuity and technical support that emerged during the regional Focal point course that was held in 2025 December. That course made it patently clear that the region is increasingly interested in and committed to the implementation of the resolution. To conclude, Madam President, we reiterate that Panama is ready and willing to continue actively and responsibly control contributing to the work of the committee. Resolution 1540 is a vital tool to butcher's international peace and security and it deserves the institutional and political support which will allow it to be fully effective. SC · President [49:16]: Thank you. I thank the Representative Panama for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Bahrain. Bahrain [49:28]: Madam President, at the outset I would like to express our gratitude for all of the efforts undertaken by the 1540 Committee as well as the Group of Experts, especially as regards the support provided to the implementation of this resolution related to non proliferation. I also wish to express our appreciation to the US Presidency of the Security Council. Thank you for convening this important meeting which is an ideal opportunity for us to exchange views on how we can implement this resolution. A resolution which is a key pillar of the international disarmament regime. Madam President, this meeting comes at a very sensitive time as our region is seeing a dangerous escalation in particular owing to Iranian aggression, unfair aggression that's been ongoing since the 26th of February of this year targeting the GCC countries including my country Bahrain and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The international community has condemned these attacks through Resolution 2817 adopted by the Security Council very recently. A resolution which condemns these attacks targeting critical and civilian infrastructure which constitutes a direct threat to regional and international peace and security. Madam President, the Kingdom of Bahrain, within the framework of our membership of the Security Council, is undertaking efforts to enhance our collective security regime, all the while defending the security of our citizens, defending our sovereignty, especially in the face of an unjustified unfair aggression. The Kingdom of Bahrain remains committed to its firm approach underpinned by wisdom restraint and we are committed to continuing our work hand in hand with the international community so as to bolster our neighbourhood policies in full respect for the sovereignty of States and while participating in contributing to prosperity and development in the region and beyond. Madam President, the situation we're facing today reflects aggressive policies pursued by Iran. They constitute an open challenge to the efforts of the international community which aim to achieve non proliferation and collective security. On this note, the use of drones reflects. Madam President, the use of drones reflects a very dangerous aspect of these activities undertaken by Iran. Madam President, the Kingdom of Bahrain would like to insist on the importance of Security Council Resolution 1540 which seeks to combat the acquisition of WMDs by none state actors and their vectors. We welcome the positive momentum that's been generated by the Committee and await with great interest the five year comprehensive review, the continual review to be held in 2027 which will serve as an opportunity to reinforce the implementation of this resolution. We'd also like to emphasize the importance of creating a nuclear weapons free zone in the Middle East. This is a key component that will help us to achieve regional and international security. By way of conclusion, we would like to commit ourselves to ongoing work with members of the Committee and all international partners so as to implement Resolution 1540 and to render real and to strengthen our international disarmament regime with a view to achieving our common objectives, a world free from WMDs in all of their forms. I thank you, Madam President. SC · President [54:01]: I thank the representative of Bahrain for the statement and I now give the floor to the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Democratic Republic of the Congo [54:09]: Madame La Presidente. Madam President, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The DRC would like to thank you for your exhaustive briefing on the progress made by the Security Council Committee established pursuant to Resolution 1540. We join our voice to the overall conclusion. The rise in extreme violence perpetrated by terrorists all over the world proves that no one will be spared from the threat of the use of WMDs by non state actors. From this vantage point, my delegation would like to highlight that the unanimous adoption on 30 November 2022 of resolution 2663. Extending the 1540 committee mandate for a 10 year period is an important achievement as it allows for the Committee to comprehensively review the implementation of Resolution 50:40, factoring in public consultations which will be held next year and once again before the next mandate renewal in 2032. In particular, we'd like to commend the headway made by the Committee as regards awareness raising support provided to Member States so as to ensure national implementation of Resolution 1540 as well as the strengthening of cooperation with international, regional and sub regional organizations. On 28 April 2020 2004, the Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1540 under the auspices of Article 7 of the UN Charter, reaffirming that nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, as well as the vectors thereof, pose a threat to international peace and security. This resolution compelled Member States to abstain from supporting non state actors developing, acquiring, producing, possessing, transferring, transporting or using such arms or their vectors. Today, 22 years have gone by and the international context is increasingly complicated. We're confronted with myriad challenges. The DRC would therefore like to reiterate the relevance of this resolution, resolution 1514 and the 1540 committee. We'd like to underscore the crucial role it plays as a fundamental pillar of the global non proliferation architecture. It was established to oversee and to support our prevention efforts and efforts to counter the scourge. This is why we've taken good note and with great interest of the efforts undertaken by the Committee to bolster the national focal point system as well as the drafting of the Voluntary Technical Guide on Export controls. The aforementioned initiatives are useful tools which can help States as they implement their obligations. My delegation would also like to highlight the importance of international cooperation as well as of technical cooperation, which will allow all States, in particular developing countries, to bolster their legislative framework and institutional frameworks as well as regards non proliferation. That is, as we look ahead to the 2027 comprehensive review, the DRC invites the committee to continue assisting Member States in implementing the resolution so that they can continue to update their national information and ensure we have an inclusive and effective process to maximize and leverage these efforts we wish for reminder letters to be sent so that States can submit their annual reports. Last but not least, the DRC would like to support efforts aimed at filling the vacant posts on the Committee's Group of Experts to ensure that the Group has the necessary resources available to fulfil its mandate. Before I conclude, Madam President, if I may, I'd like to refer to my Statement delivered on 12th March 2026 in this chamber regarding the delay in distributing the chairs of the Security Council's subsidiary bodies. I'd like to recall once again that this obligation falls to our Council. An obligation to overcome our differences and to ensure that our essential activities, the activities of the subsidiary organs, can commit. By way of conclusion, the DRC remains fully committed to ongoing collaboration in a constructive spirit, working together with the Committee and all Member States so as to promote the universal implementation, the effective implementation of Resolution 1540, a vital and essential resolution for our collective security. I thank you. SC · President [59:06]: I thank the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the statement and I now give the floor to the representative of France. France [59:15]: Madame La Presidente. Madam President. I wish to thank the Presidency for having presented the report on the activities of the 1540 Committee over recent months. I also wish to thank Panama for the work conducted as Chair of the committee during 2025. The resolution 1540 is a vital pillar of the international non proliferation regime. Its effective implementation is, as such, in the collective interest of the international. At a time when the non proliferation is placed on its mettle, it is vital to reaffirm our commitment to the norms and instruments which underpin that edifice that includes Resolution 1540 and the resolutions of this Council pertaining to the Iranian and DPRK proliferation crises or for The NPT whose ReNew conference will meet here in a few weeks in New York. Among the threats, threats to international peace and security, the potential acquisition of weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery by non state actors is one of the most grave. We've seen just that in Syria, a country whose people has weathered chemical attacks perpetrated by Daesh, as has been established by reports issued by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in that country. The effective implementation of chemical programs inherited from the Assad era is thus necessary and urgent to prevent all risks of proliferation and of the resurgence of chemical terrorism. In this connection, we hail the cooperation between the Syrian authorities and the opcw. These efforts must continue and thanks to the mobilization and support of the international community, ultimately allow progress towards the destruction of the remains of the Syrian chemical program. We underscore the unwavering and decisive commitment of the countries in the G7 Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction. We chair that partnership this year and we're promoting the resolution 1540 and the implementation of it through that effort. This mobilization is taking the form of financial commitments that will benefit 10 countries. By way of example, we have financed to the tune of several millions of euros, a UNODC program aiming to strengthen export controls. We're doing that with the Australia Group in Central Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia. Here I wish to recall the decisive role of expert control mechanisms in the implementation of 1540 and the importance of ensuring compliance by Member States with their obligations pursuant to that resolution. Plants fully support the work done by the 1540 committee to support the implementation of the resolution. We welcome the fact that the Committee has agreed upon an annual programme of work. It sets forth a clear roadmap for its activities in the coming months. It is important to continue to raise Member States awareness of their obligations pursuant to Resolution 1540. It's also important to support them as they seek to discharge their obligations, including through assistance. The development of the Multi Year Plan in this regard for awareness raising activities is positive and vital. The five year review which is set to be completed by 2027 will be hugely useful to take stock of achievements with the implementation of this resolution. We're ready to contribute to that comprehensive review actively. In order to ensure the successful conclusion of that comprehensive review, the 1540 Committee must have the means necessary to smoothly operate. The Chair of this Committee and the chairs of all other subsidiary bodies of the Council in this regard must be appointed forthwith. I wish to underscore the fact, as the President has just done, that all the vacant posts in the Group of Experts must be filled without delay. The effectiveness of the Group of Experts depends on it. SC · President [1:03:20]: Thank you. I thank the representative of France for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of China. China [1:03:29]: Thank you. Madam Chair. I thank you for your briefing. Over the past year, the Committee has carried out a great deal of productive work in promoting the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1514. China commends Ambassador Alfaro de Alba and his team for the efforts experts and expresses appreciation to the Group of Experts and the Secretariat for their contributions. For more than two decades, Resolution 1540 has played an irreplaceable role in consolidating international consensus on non proliferation, promoting international cooperation in this field and preventing non state actors from acquiring weapons of mass destruction. The Committee will conduct a new round of comprehensive review in 2027. At the same time, the international security situation has evolved profoundly with frequent localized conflicts and turmoil. The threat of terrorism remains severe and the risk and challenges of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivery still persist. President the Chinese President Xi Jinping has put forward a Global Security Initiative and a Global Governance Initiative, advocating a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security and practicing and upholding the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits in global governance. These are of great guiding significance in promoting governance in the field of non proliferation. In the light of the above, I wish to make the following points on the work of the Committee. First, non proliferation is a global challenge. Addressing this challenge requires genuine multilateralism, fostering a universally secure international and regional environment, due consideration of the legitimate security concerns of all countries, and realization of common security so as to eliminate the root causes of proliferation. The Treaty on the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Biological Weapons Convention and the Chemical Weapons Convention, together with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 constitute the International legal framework for non proliferation. All Parties should ensure the effective compliance with and implementation of these legal instruments so as to safeguard authority and effectiveness of this regime. Second, Member States are the main Parties responsible for the implementation of Resolution 1540. All countries should continue strengthening their national capabilities and addressing gaps in legislation, institutional mechanism and professional expertise related to non proliferation. The Committee should, on the basis of respect for the wishes of the Member States and taking fully into account the national conditions and practical needs of the countries concerned, facilitate the matching of assistance and support targeted international cooperation. In recent years, Member States, including China and Panama, have organized multiple regional training courses under the Committee's framework, providing useful platforms for sharing experiences and enhancing cooperation. Third, emerging technologies such as AI 3D printing, gene editing and synthetic biology bring unprecedented opportunities for human development but also pose prominent security risks and challenges. All countries should strengthen governance and oversight of emerging technologies to prevent non state actors from abusing these technologies for proliferation activities. At the same time, the UN should play its role as the main channel to promote the development of the global governance framework and standards for emerging fields that enjoyed broad consensus. Fourth, achieving non proliferation objectives should not come at expenses of scientific and technological progress. It is important to balance development and security, effectively safeguard the legitimate rights of developing countries to the peaceful use of science technology and oppose the abuse of export controls and unilateral sanctions under the pretext of national security or non proliferation. The General assembly has adopted on multiple occasions the draft resolution entitled Promoting International Cooperation on Peaceful Uses in the Context of International Security submitted by China and like minded countries. China welcomed these and calls on more Member States to support this resolution and welcomed continued inclusive dialogue among all parties to promote its effective implementation so as to build a just, reasonable and non discriminatory non proliferation order. President China stands ready to continue to work with all Parties, participate constructively in the work of the Committee and contribute to the effective implementation of Resolution 1514, Strengthening of a Global non proliferation governance and safeguarding international and regional peace and security. Thank you, President. SC · President [1:08:52]: I thank the representative of China for the statement and I now give the floor to the representative of Columbia. Colombia [1:09:00]: Thank you very much, Madam President for presenting the report. Colombia values the efforts taken by the Committee to continue promoting the full and effective implementation of Resolution 1540. Moreover, my delegation applauds the fact that the Committee now has a substantive program of work for 2026-2027. That program of work reflects a level of ambition which is commensurate with the broad nature of its mandate, particularly in terms of assistance, outreach and preparation for the 2027 comprehensive review. We value the fact that the implementation of Resolution 1540 continues to be guided by the principles of transparency, equitable treatment, cooperation and consistency. This will benefit the effective and universal implementation of the resolution. At the same time, we recognize that the resolution's implementation is coming up against practical limitations. These include the absence of a chair of the Committee and the remaining vacancies among the Group of experts. For my country, guaranteeing the operational continuity and the proper functioning of the Committee is of the utmost importance. We trust that the situations outlined above will be resolved forthwith. Madam President, as things stand, we are witnessing the vertiginous speed at which new technologies are being developed, including those with dual use applications. In turn, we are forced to contend with non state actors ability to adapt their methods to this reality, as well as their ability to take advantage of regulatory vacuums and to exploit legitimate supply chains to pursue unlawful ends. In a context marked by these characteristics, the Committee's assistance mechanisms are of crucial importance. In many States, in particularly in developing countries. The effective implementation of Resolution 1540 does not depend on solely on timely access to technical assistance to strengthen national capacity. It also depends on international cooperation being facilitated, such as to make it possible for these countries to acquire specialized equipment and technical support to strengthen national regulatory frameworks, expert controls and to step up the security of sensitive material. Madam President, we take note of the beginning of preparations for the 2027 comprehensive review. That review will provide us with an opportunity to take stock of progress made with the implementation of 1540 as well as to identify any shortcomings. Against that backdrop, it is important, particularly important indeed, to guarantee that the Group of Experts has the human resources necessary to fully support the Committee's work. Moreover, I wish to underscore the importance of placing the Committee's efforts within the broader framework of the international disarmament and non proliferation regime. Resolution 1540 is a pillar which can complement other instruments. These include the Convention on Chemical Weapons, the Convention on Biological Weapons and the Non Proliferation Treaty. That treaty will soon be submitted to another review. For my delegation, it is vital to strengthen synergies between the Committee and these other instruments. This in order to guarantee consistency and effectiveness in terms of tackling modern proliferation challenges. To conclude, allow me to underscore Colombia's staunch commitment to the full implementation of Resolution 1540. We are similarly committed to strengthening multilateralism and international cooperation to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. I thank you. SC · President [1:13:35]: I thank the representative of Colombia for the statement and I give the floor to the representative of Somalia. Somalia [1:13:42]: Thank you, Madam President. At the outset, my delegation thanks the Presidency acting in the absence of a Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to Resolution 1540 for convening today's meeting and for the abduction on the Committee's work, We note the progress achieved in the Committee's work since the previous year as reflected in the adoption of the 22nd program of work covering the period through January 2027. As we continue to reflect on the critical role of Resolution 1540, it remains a pivotal component of the global non proliferation framework. We acknowledge the Community dedicated work in promoting implementation and welcomed the approval of the first voluntary technical Reference Guide concerning National Export controls which provides essential clarity for meeting obligations under paragraph 3 of the resolution. Madam President, Somalia recognizes the primary responsibility of the non proliferation rest is with the national government. However, we are mindful that obstacles are developing countries face such as limited resources and technical know how. In this regard, we believe that developing capacity of all Member States must be a shared priority. We welcome the Committee's ongoing efforts to match offers of assistance with the specific requirement of Member States to ensure no nation is left behind. We also note the Community's robust outreach efforts and its focus on fast forward capacity building as evidenced by the event co hosted with Panama in December for points of contact in Latin America and the Caribbean. In conclusion, Madam President, Somalia reaffirms its commitment to the non proliferation regime. Somalia will continue to work alongside regional and international partners to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and foster a safer More secure wall for all, I think. SC · President [1:15:44]: I thank the representative Somalia for the statement and I now give the floor to the representative of Greece. Greece [1:15:49]: I thank you, Madam President, for briefing the Council in your capacity as the Acting chair of the 1540 committee. Greece remains fully committed to supporting the effective and universal implementation of Resolution 5040, which aims to preventing the proliferation of weapons of modern mass destruction and their means of delivery to non state actors, including for terrorist purposes. I will make three remarks. First, we commend the significant progress achieved in 2025 under the chairmanship of the Permanent representative of Panama, Ambassador Eloy Alfaro de Alba and his team. Second, in its capacity as Vice Chair, Greece actively participated in the Committee's activities, including through co chairing the second annual open briefing in October 2025, as well as with the organization and support of the UNODA of a workshop on maritime Border security enforcement in November 2025. Third, important challenges for the Committee lay ahead, recalling the need for the urgent appointment of Chairs of the Security Council subsidiary organs, including the chair of the 1540 committee. In particular, in the coming period, the Committee will be called to continue the preparation of the 2027 Comprehensive Review on the Status of Implementation of Resolution 1540. Moreover, it is important for the Committee to ensure that the Group of Experts efforts works efficiently and on a continuous basis, including through the filing of the including of the filling of the vacancies within the Group without further delay. Regrettably, this has become a long overdue issue. Finally, my country believes that the Committee should further enhance its cooperation with international, regional and sub regional organizations and other UN bodies in the context of the resolution, particularly with the European Union. In conclusion, Greece commenced the Committee support structure, including the Group of Experts, un, ODA and DPPA for their invaluable support to the Committee and thanks Panama for its leadership. We stand ready to continue supporting the important work. I thank you. SC · President [1:18:24]: I thank the representative of Greece for this statement. I give the floor to the representative of Latvia. Latvia [1:18:31]: 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 and 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 diffused as dual use technologies, synthetic biology and cyber sabotage among other 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. Purpose along with a stock of ballistic missiles and cooperation with exactly the same the sort of terrorist groups that this resolution is meant against. The illegal nuclear program of the DPRK is another example. And so is the continued responsible dangerous and reckless nuclear rhetoric and threats as part of Russia's aggression against Ukraine combined with an acceptable 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 program 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 find 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 the resolution 1540. And we remind that any efficiency efforts to delay, disrupt or otherwise hinder the work of the Committee, especially for political reasons, are worrisome and undermine the trust in the work of this Council. And 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 unique and much needed role in the global security architecture. And considering the subject matter and scope of the work undertaken by the the 1540 committee, we must support its work as if it were life or death matter. Because it quite literally is. Thank you. SC · President [1:21:35]: I thank the representative of Latvia for the statement. I give the floor to the representative of Denmark. Denmark [1:21:42]: Thank you, Madam President. Let me also thank the United States for the briefing as Acting chair of the 1540 committee. While work continues on the subsidiary body Package Package. We hope a solution can be found as soon as possible. We also express our appreciation to Panama for the leadership of the committee in 2025. Madam President, Resolution 1540 remains a cornerstone of the international non proliferation architecture. Denmark reaffirms our strong commitment to its full and effective implementation and to preventing non state actors, including terrorist group groups from acquiring nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery. The global non proliferation landscape remains under significant pressure. Ongoing conflicts and persistent proliferation concerns underline the continued relevance of Resolution 1540. Developments related to DPRK's nuclear and missile programs, Iran's deeply concerning nuclear aspirations, and the serious nuclear safety risks associated with Russia's illegal aggression against Ukraine remind us why strong national controls and international cooperation remains essential. In this regard. We urge all Member States to continue strengthening regulatory controls and to adopt and effectively enforce the necessary national legislation and measures required under Resolution 1540. We also call upon the remaining Member States that have not yet done so to submit their first national reports on implementation. These reports are essential for assessing progress, identifying gaps and facilitating assistance. The Committee plays a vital role in supporting Member States in these efforts. To this end, cooperation and coordination with relevant international organizations and export control restrictions regimes remain essential. This includes facilitating the participation of the Group of Experts in relevant events that can further strengthen partnerships and help promote awareness of Resolution 1540. Madam President, looking ahead the comprehensive review of the implementation of Resolution 1540, scheduled to be completed by December 2027, will be a milestone for the Committee. Preparation for this review should therefore remain a top priority. We commend the Group of Experts for their dedication and highly professional work in support of the Committee. We encourage them to continue playing a proactive role in assisting Member States. It's therefore important that the Group of Experts be fully staffed. We hope that the remaining vacant positions will be filled as soon as possible, particularly in view of the upcoming comprehensive review. Finally, we would like to express our appreciation for the work carried out by UNODA and DPPA in supporting the Committee. I thank you. SC · President [1:24:39]: I thank the Representative from Denmark for the statement. I give the floor to the representative of the United Kingdom. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [1:24:46]: Thank you, Madam President. And for presenting today's report. Let me begin by thanking Panama for its stewardess leadership of the 1540 Committee in 2025, including through the creation of the first voluntary technical reference Guide on National export controls. I will make four points. First, Resolution 1540 remains as important to international security today as when it was negotiated over 20 years ago. It remains the only universal, universal, legally binding instrument that obliges all States to prevent non state actors, including terrorist groups and criminal networks, from acquiring nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery. The rapid diffusion of new and advanced technologies across the globe has made this threat more acute, not less. Full implementation of the resolution therefore remains a long term task and the United Kingdom calls on all States to implement their obligations under this resolution in full. Second, the United Kingdom welcomes the constructive consensus that made it possible to agree this year's programme of work which, as we have regrettably seen in recent years, cannot be taken for granted. We encourage this consensus to further strengthen the pardon to further strengthen core national measures essential for the resolution's implementation, such as export and transshipment controls, enforcement provisions, control lists for sensitive dual use items and sustained assistance to states. Third, the United Kingdom agrees with the 1540 Committee's report on the importance of importance of an active and fully staffed Group of Experts. Outreach is critical for the Group of Experts to execute its functions, including by providing insight and technical support to Member States in their implementation of Resolution 1540. We remain concerned that unwarranted objections have continued to prevent the Group of Experts from attending outreach events focused on thematic and regional implementation issues. Any action that might hinder the Committee's vital work should be reversed immediately. Fourth, the United Kingdom remains committed to assisting States in improving their national implementation. We will continue to offer our legal and regulatory expertise on 1540 related matters and we will continue to contribute to wider security efforts that indirectly bolster 1540 implementation, such as the UK's ongoing financial and programmatic support to UNODA's biological and toxin weapons Convention work, including universalization outreach. Madam President, as we look ahead to the comprehensive review in 2020, we encourage all Council Members to participate fully in preparations. With threats evolving rapidly, the review is our opportunity to develop clear recommendations to strengthen the resolution and ensure support is directed to the States that need it most. In that regard, the United Kingdom reaffirms the importance of ensuring that all Security Council subsidiary Board bodies, including the 1540 Committee are swiftly allocated chairs. I thank you. SC · President [1:28:31]: I thank the representative of the United Kingdom for the statement. I give the floor to the representative of Pakistan. Pakistan [1:28:38]: I thank you, Madam President for the presentation of 1540 committees report in the absence of the Committee Chair, it again serves to underscore the urgency of appointing the Chairs of subsidiary bodies without further delay. Important substantive work of the Committees is suffering because of the inordinate delay. We take note of the report and are pleased at the progress made within the Committee in the last few months. In this respect, we particularly acknowledge Ambassador Eloy Alfaro Di Alba, the Permanent Representative of Panama, in advancing the Committee's substantive work last year. President in the current complex global environment characterized by several conflicts, simmering tensions and security challenges, the promotion of non proliferation efforts is more crucial than ever. Resolution 1540 plays a pivotal role in the global framework to prevent the proliferation of WMDs to non state actors. The potential for non state actors to acquire and use WMDS threatens national security of Member States and gravely undermines international international peace and security. The changing nature of non state actors and terrorist activities underscores the importance of strengthening voluntary international cooperation and collaborative efforts to achieve the common goal of effectively implementing the resolution 1540. Furthermore, as science, technology and global trade continues to evolve, Member States must stay abreast of these developments to effectively implement the resolution. The 1540 committee can play important role in promoting international understanding of these threats and our collective response. President Multilateral export control regimes can play a crucial role in strengthening global non proliferation efforts. To maintain credibility, these regimes must avoid becoming exclusive syndicates prioritizing political and commercial interests. Selective exceptions diminish the credibility of the global non proliferation framework and risk further destabilizing regional and global peace and security. Effective non proliferation requires a non discriminatory objective and criteria based approach. Such an approach is critical to maintain strategic stability at the regional and global level and avoid arms risks. Moreover, non proliferation efforts, important in their own right must not impede international cooperation in the peaceful uses of dual use technologies which is vital for the economic development of all Member States, particularly the global South. All countries must be able to exercise their inalienable right to utilize nuclear energy and technologies for peaceful purposes consistent with their respective non proliferation and international legal obligations. Further work in this respect, including within the 1540 committee would be important to ensure equitable and unimpeded access to technologies while promoting the goals of global non proliferation, non proliferation and peaceful technological development reinforce, not undermine each other when approached through cooperative mechanisms on a non discriminatory basis. President Pakistan will continue its active contribution to the work of the 1540 committee, including in the ongoing comprehensive review which is a vital exercise in the implementation of the resolution. We also appreciate the dedication of the Group of Experts to advance the Committee's work. We reiterate the view that the members of the Group should be selected based on criteria of merit, expertise and geographical rotation and hope that pending vacancies would be filled while keeping in view above considerations, Pakistan would continue to promote and support global non proliferation and the objectives of the 1540 resolution. SC · President [1:32:32]: I thank you very much. I thank the representative of Pakistan for the statement. I give the floor to the representative of the Russian Federation. Russian Federation [1:32:42]: Madam President, we're grateful to you for your briefing about the work of the 1540 Committee covering the period between August of 2025 to this day. UN Security Council Resolution 1540 remains relevant as a universal international instrument which seeks to preventing WMDs related materials and the means of their delivery falling into the hands of non state actors. The importance of this document, the resolution, for promoting depoliticized cooperation between states so as to help achieve the aforementioned goal cannot be overstated. The Russian Federation has been unswervingly committed to the implementation of Resolution 1540. Russia was one of the countries initiating the adoption thereof. We directly participated in preparing the text. Against this backdrop, we attach great importance to the work of the 1540 Committee and to the joint efforts of the Security Council geared towards ensuring the effective functioning of said Committee. From this vantage point, we welcome the consensus based agreement on the program of work of the committee out to January 2027. We thank our UK colleagues for leading the informal work on preparing this. We're expecting that despite the unresolved issue of seat allocation in Security Council subsidiary bodies, that the Committee will manage to carry out all of the tasks assigned to it in a timely fashion. The imperative has been and remains strict compliance by the 1540 Committee with its mandate, which has clear cut contours. The key components thereof are the monitoring of the implementation of Resolution 1540 and the coordination of international efforts so as to provide technical cooperation to States requesting it. In their work on this front, Committee members should be guided exclusively by the goals of non proliferation of WMDs. Assigning non core functions to the Committee, including the function of oversight, is something that's unacceptable. What's equally unacceptable is injecting topics into the Committee's work, topics which stray beyond Resolution 1540 topics. For instance, the fight against terrorism, sanctions issues and the development of new technologies. We shouldn't forget that the Committee's Group of Experts answers solely to this body. It cannot act autonomously. We're grateful to Group of Experts members for their professional assistance provided to the Committee and for effectively implementing the Committee's instructions, especially given that it is not fully staffed. The Russian Federation is counting on the filling of remaining Group of Experts vacancies as soon as possible. This is of principled importance given the workload that will fall on the experts as they prepare for the comprehensive review of 1540 resolution implementation which is scheduled for 2027. Given that the current US presidency of the Security Council, given that the US currently holds the presidency, we are counting on the US undertaking efforts to ensure that this key unresolved issue is resolved. Madam President, the Russian Federation aims to continue constructively collaborating with all Security Council members, as well as other States, so as to ensure the 1540 committee successfully carries out its work. We believe that it is this approach that will pave the way for effectively the Committee effectively implementing the tasks before it as well as garnering consensus on the most tricky issues, I think. Thank you. SC · President [1:36:48]: I thank the representative of the Russian Federation for the statement. I give the floor to the representative of Liberia. Liberia [1:36:59]: Thank you. Libera thanks the United States for for convening this briefing and for presenting the update on the work of the Committee established pursuant to Resolution 50. We also thank Panama for their leadership. A non nuclear weapons state party to the Treaty, Liberia reaffirms its commitment to strengthening the global non proliferation regime and takes Note of the 22nd Program of Work of the Committee covering the period through 31st January 2027. We pledge our support toward the effective implementation of the activities underlined therein. We note with encouragement the progress made by Member States in fulfilling their reporting requirements under Resolution 1540. We commend these States for demonstrating transparency and commitment to strengthening the global non proliferation regime and in that regard we are pleased to also report that Liberia is strengthening its safety frameworks. We have agreed in 20262030 country program framework with the IAEA prioritizing radiation safety, health and border port capacities. Therefore, Liberia welcomes 1540 assistance matchmaking for one detection upgrades at our Rabbis International Airport and the Freeport of Monrovia and to a national end of life pathway for disused medical sources. In conclusion, Madam President, allow me to emphasize what we already know, which is that the consequences of the use of weapons of mass destruction anywhere, especially the use of nuclear weapons, will be catastrophic everywhere. Likewise, the use of chemical or biological agents could cause widespread suffering and destabilize societies across the globe. Therefore, preventing such outcomes must remain a priority of this concern. This is why we join others to call for the full composition of this and all other subsidiary bodies of this Council. I thank you. SC · President [1:40:07]: I thank the Representative Liberia for the statement. United States of America [1:40:10]: I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the Representative of the United States. The United States is pleased to note positive developments within the Committee over the last year. In 2025, the committee supported implementation of Security Council Resolution 1540 through 25 events across five continents. The committee's group of experts participated in regional and national workshops focused on export controls, biosecurity, nuclear security and chemical weapons Convention implementation, reaching countries in Africa, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Europe. We urge all Committee members to support such outreach as this Council agreed to in Resolution 2663. Key accomplishments also included supporting the development of national action plans in Costa Rica, Nigeria and Panama facilitating peer to peer assistance between Botswana and South Africa and conducting the Committee's annual open briefing for Member States and international organizations here in October to prevent WMD proliferation and strengthen export controls worldwide. The Committee also collaborated extensively with the iaea, oas, OPCW and osce. The Committee's efforts are instrumental in assuring that Security Council Resolution 1540 remains the foundation of global efforts to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, and to non state actors, including terrorist groups. This comes at a pivotal moment for all of us. Us as terrorist groups such as the Houthis attempt to acquire these weapons and their delivery systems through illicit trade practices that threaten all of our security and global commerce. In closing, we urge all Member States to undertake comprehensive steps towards national implementation of Resolution 1540, including the adoption of effective legislation, regulatory controls and enforcement mechanisms. The United States stands ready to assist countries in these efforts and we believe only through coordinated global actions we can effectively prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Together, we can ensure that Resolution 1540 is fully implemented, safeguarding global security and preventing the catastrophic consequences of WMD proliferation. Thank you. I resume my function as President of the Council. SC · President [1:43:06]: There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. This meeting is adjourned.