Izumi Nakamitsu, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, delivered opening remarks today for regional consultations involving states parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The consultations, held February 12, 2026, aim to prepare for the upcoming NPT Review Conference.
According to the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, Nakamitsu’s remarks focused on fostering dialogue and collaboration among states as they prepare for the review process. The NPT, first opened for signature in 1968, is a landmark international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament.
Nakamitsu assumed her current role in May 2017, appointed by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. Prior to this appointment, she served as Assistant Administrator of the Crisis Response Unit at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) since 2014. Her career within the UN system began in 2008, and has included positions such as Special Adviser on Follow-up to the Summit on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants, and Director of the Asia and the Middle East Division of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations.
The regional consultations are intended to provide a platform for states to exchange views on key issues related to the NPT, including nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation, and the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The NPT Review Conference, held every five years, assesses the implementation of the treaty and sets the agenda for future efforts. The 2026 conference is anticipated to be particularly significant given ongoing geopolitical tensions and concerns about nuclear proliferation.
Earlier in December 2025, Nakamitsu also delivered a video message at Wilton Park, focusing on NPT diplomacy towards the 2026 Review, and opening remarks at a United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 Point of Contact Training for Latin America and the Caribbean. She also addressed the Seventh Session of the Working Group on the Strengthening of the Biological Weapons Convention, and the 24th ROK-UN Joint Conference on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Issues.
The UN Office for Disarmament Affairs has not yet released the full text of Nakamitsu’s remarks from today’s regional consultations. The next scheduled engagement for Nakamitsu is currently unannounced.
