Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta.  Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi has urged ASEAN to enhance global nuclear disarmament efforts, despite waning commitments from nuclear-armed nations.

Speaking at the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Commission meeting during the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, on Wednesday (24/7/2024), she highlighted the setback caused by key nuclear states withdrawing from crucial international agreements.

Minister Retno pointed out that the abandonment of agreements like the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, and Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty has moved us further from achieving a nuclear-free world, according to antaranews.com,

She emphasized that ASEAN must stay committed to keeping Southeast Asia free of nuclear weapons and press nuclear states to honor their disarmament and non-proliferation commitments. 

Minister Retno also advocated for stronger cooperation with other nuclear-free regions and supported joint training between ASEAN and OPANAL, a Latin American and Caribbean disarmament organization. 

The SEANWFZ Commission also endorsed Timor Leste’s bid to join the SEANWFZ Treaty and welcomed progress on the 2023-2027 Action Plan.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)