Delivered by: His Excellency Mohamed Abushahab, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative

Mr. President,

I thank Ambassador Pérez Loose for his briefing and assure him of the UAE’s unwavering support to the work of the 1540 Committee and his chairmanship. We are grateful to the Group of Experts for their contribution in promoting the implementation of Resolution 1540.

Mr. President,

For nearly two decades, Security Council Resolution 1540 has played a unique role within the non-proliferation regime. It has focused on reducing the threat of terrorists and non-state actors acquiring, developing, trafficking in, or using weapons of mass destruction. Today, that mandate remains as relevant as ever, and the evolving nature of proliferation continues to pose a threat to international peace and security. In the face of such challenges, we welcome progress made by states in their implementation of Resolution 1540, acknowledging that its full and effective implementation is a long-term endeavor.

We were pleased to see the successful completion of the Comprehensive Review and the unanimous adoption of Resolution 2663 last year, under Mexico’s able leadership. By renewing the mandate of the 1540 Committee for ten years, it expanded the horizon in which the Security Council and the Committee can further support Member States in implementing their obligations. This should bring us to a new chapter for the global non-proliferation architecture focused on vigilance, strict controls, and mutual accountability.

An important element in Resolution 2663 was that it encouraged the 1540 Committee to give due consideration to the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in all its activities. We believe that integrating the Women, Peace and Security agenda into the non-proliferation context will better address the specific impacts of weapons proliferation on women and girls, lead to more effective policy-making, and improve implementation.

The UAE also believes it was particularly important that Resolution 2663 stipulated the significance of continued outreach and assistance by the Committee to Member States, including by cooperating with the relevant international, regional, and subregional organisations. The 1540 Group of Experts provides valuable assistance to Member States, and greater streamlining of the Committee’s decision-making processes related to tasks assigned to the Group of Experts would be especially constructive in that regard.

We appreciate the efforts by the Chair and his team, as well as those by the UK, to ensure the Committee was recently able to adopt a programme of work after two years of stalemate. We look forward to engaging with other members in executing the activities it outlines.

Mr. President,

We are all witnessing the rapid pace of technological advancements in recent years, such as in artificial intelligence. The risk that non-state actors could misuse AI to acquire or develop weapons of mass destruction highlights the importance of states and the 1540 non-proliferation architecture. Both are making significant efforts to stay ahead of the evolving nature of risks and rapid advances in science and technology, as called for in Resolution 2663. It is essential that governments and tech companies work together to develop effective safeguards and monitoring mechanisms to prevent such misuse, and it is important for the Security Council to stay ahead of this curve.

Thank you, Mr. President.