CONFERENCE ON FACILITATING ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE CTBT – ARTICLE XIV
Statement by Ms. Jan Adams, Secretary, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
26 September 2025
Excellencies and distinguished delegates.
Australia thanks the co-Presidents, the Philippines and Sweden, for their leadership.
I also acknowledge Dr Robert Floyd and congratulate him on his reappointment as Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) – a tribute to his determined efforts to universalise the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
Australia is proud of our historic and continuing leadership on promoting entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
Australia was honoured to chair the 11th Meeting of the Friends of the CTBT last year, which brought together fifty states to reaffirm their shared commitment to the Treaty.
Our support is underpinned by a solemn recognition of the devastating impact of nuclear weapons testing, which lingers in the Pacific, in Australia and around the world.
This terrible history should never be repeated.
With 178 ratifications, the Treaty is an essential part of the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime.
It underpins the strong global norm that exists against nuclear weapons testing and contributes to our shared ambition of a world free of nuclear weapons.
Before the Treaty opened for signature, more than two thousand nuclear tests were conducted.
This century, only one state has tested a nuclear weapon - North Korea.
But the CTBT is more than just a disarmament and non-proliferation treaty.
It delivers tangible public goods to people globally.
The CTBT’s International Monitoring System (IMS) detects seismic activity such as earthquakes and other events that could cause a tsunami, thereby contributing to natural disaster protection.
Australia hosts the world’s third-largest number of IMS installations.
As Member States, we have a mandate and a responsibility to maintain the IMS’ long-term integrity and readiness, and we must ensure the system’s sustainability.
Australia is committed to strengthening the CTBT through practical measures in our region.
We are providing technical assistance for Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) members.
And we will support PIF members’ efforts to access the civil and environmental benefits of the International Monitoring System.
We congratulate Papua New Guinea for ratifying the Treaty last year.
And deplore Russia’s revocation of its ratification.
Achieving universal membership of the Treaty is fundamental to ending nuclear weapons testing.
For those countries who are yet to ratify, we urge you to do so without delay.