Statement by the CSTO member states at the 2026 Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

We, the member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), reaffirm our unwavering commitment to preserving and strengthening the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

Since its entry into force, the NPT has remained one of the pillars of the international security architecture. The virtually universal character of the Treaty testifies not only to its uniqueness, but also to its high relevance in the complex conditions of the current international situation. Having proven its effectiveness, the NPT continues to play a key role in preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

The equal importance of the three fundamental pillars of the NPT — disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy — is a guarantee that the Treaty is capable not only of withstanding current challenges and threats, but also of remaining the basis for interstate cooperation in these areas for many years to come.

Amid growing turbulence, accompanied by the erosion of treaties and agreements in the field of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation, increasing risks of an arms race and escalation of conflicts, the task of preserving and strengthening the NPT is acquiring particular importance. Its fulfillment requires collective efforts by States Parties to maintain the integrity and effectiveness of the Treaty in accordance with their obligations.

As stated by the leaders of the CSTO member states in the Declaration of the Collective Security Council of the Organization in November 2023, our countries proceed from the immutable premise that a nuclear war must never be waged. We call on all nuclear-weapon States to strictly adhere to the principles and understandings set out in the Joint Statement of the Leaders of the Five Nuclear-Weapon States on Preventing Nuclear War and Avoiding Arms Races of January 3, 2022, and to take effective steps to reduce the risks of nuclear conflicts and, consequently, any military confrontation between nuclear-weapon States.

We are compelled to note that, recently, the NPT review process has faced serious challenges and disagreements, including on a number of politicized issues. This, together with persistent destabilizing trends within the NPT and external factors adversely affecting the Treaty, prevents the achievement of consensus decisions and undermines the process of fulfilling all of the Treaty’s fundamental objectives. The absence of final documents of the two previous NPT Review Conferences is evidence of such cases.

We call on the States Parties participating in the 11th NPT Review Conference to engage in constructive, substantive and inclusive dialogue based on taking into account the interests of all parties. We proceed from the need to focus efforts on developing consensus decisions and ensuring the strengthening of the Treaty regime and its three pillars.

The CSTO member states are ready to cooperate with all delegations with a view to ensuring a balanced and comprehensive consideration of all three fundamental pillars of the NPT. We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to our obligations under the Treaty, as well as our intention to continue coordinating efforts to preserve and strengthen it in the interests of maintaining international peace and security.

We expect all States Parties to the Conference to seek to develop coordinated approaches and compromise solutions. Only in this way, through joint efforts, will it be possible to create the conditions for achieving positive outcomes of the 11th Review Conference that would be acceptable to all States Parties. This would make a significant contribution to achieving the common goal of strengthening the NPT.