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Statement by the Republic of Lithuania at the General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly First Committee 80th Session, New York, October 2025.

Mister Chair,

On behalf of the Lithuanian delegation, I would like to congratulate you on assuming the Committee’s leadership. We express our full support and cooperation, and wish you and the Bureau every success in guiding our work forward.

Lithuania fully aligns itself with the statement by the European Union. In our national capacity, I would like to add the following remarks.

I read the shortened version of the statement, the full text will be posted online.

Regrettably, this Committee convenes against the backdrop of a deteriorating global security environment. The disarmament and non-proliferation architecture, built over decades, is facing mounting challenges and immense pressure by actions and policies that undermines objectives and principles of UN Charter and international law.

Russia’s unjustified and illegal full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine is accompanied by its dangerous nuclear rhetoric and wider pattern of provocative behaviour, which includes weaponizing nuclear power plants, violations of sovereign airspace and incidents involving drones in European countries bordering Russia. This is not the conduct to be expected from a responsible permanent member of the Security Council, nor from a nuclear-weapon state under the NPT. We strongly condemn the Belarusian regime’s complicity in Russia’s war against Ukraine.. We are also alarmed by the deepening military cooperation between Russia, Iran, and the DPRK, including reports of arms transfers and the deployment of DPRK combat troops to support war effort against Ukraine. We are disappointed by the insufficient efforts of the international community to curb the flow of military goods and dual-use items that enable the continuation of Russia’s war.

We observe with deep concern the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea continued undermining of the global non-proliferation architecture, as well as Iran’s unchecked expansion of its nuclear program. Additionally, we note a concerning lack of transparency from certain States – including China – whose actions reveal a disconnect between declared commitments, such as a policy of minimum deterrence and No First Use, and the scale, scope, and intent of their rapidly expanding and diversifying nuclear arsenal. This inconsistency fuels uncertainty and undermines trust.

Mister Chair,

Lithuania continues to strongly support the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as the cornerstone of the global disarmament and non-proliferation regime. Our shared objective remains the achievement of a world free of nuclear weapons, pursued through full implementation of all elements of the NPT, including Article VI, based on effectiveness, verification, and undiminished security for all. All nuclear-armed states must uphold their commitment to universal and verifiable disarmament.

2026 NPT Review Conference will be a key opportunity to reaffirm the relevance of this instrument, despite today’s challenging international landscape.

As a non-nuclear State, Lithuania urges to draw a clear distinction between States that take legitimate actions fully aligned with the NPT such as those supporting non-proliferation and strategic stability (like NATO’s Allies efforts), and those States that issue unfounded accusations to deflect attention from their illegal wars of aggression and opaque military, including nuclear, build-up. We would like to emphasize that NATO arrangements are fully compliant with the NPT.

Lithuania stresses the importance of a successor agreement to the New START for the sake of strategic stability that would benefit us all. We urge China to engage in dialogue on risk reduction.

Mister Chair,

I need to speak of highly worrying developments at the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant, which significantly heightens concerns over nuclear safety and security.

The Zaporhizhia Nuclear Power Plant has been without off-site power for nearly two weeks, relying solely on emergency generators – an unsustainable and dangerous situation. Russia’s illegal seizure and militarization of the Plant, along with continued deliberate shelling and drone attacks on Ukraine’s civilian energy infrastructure, severely heighten risks to Zaporizhzhia and other nuclear facilities.

Russia must immediately and unconditionally withdraw all military and associated personnel from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and from the entire territory of Ukraine before irreversible damage is done.

Mister Chair,

It is regrettable that International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts have been unable to conduct full and effective monitoring and verification in Iran for nearly four months. We are deeply concerned about the Agency’s loss of continuity of knowledge, particularly regarding the highly enriched uranium (HEU) stockpile. Lithuania fully supports the diplomatic efforts of the E3, EU, and IAEA Director General Grossi to reduce tensions and achieve a lasting solution. We urge Iran to engage constructively and to restore full cooperation with the IAEA and pursue a diplomatic solution. These are essential steps for regional and global security. 

Lithuania remains gravely concerned about the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s advancing of its unchecked nuclear and ballistic missile programs, including recent declarations of the “irreversibility” of its nuclear status. We strongly urge the DPRK to return to, and fully comply with, the NPT and IAEA safeguards, refrain from destabilizing actions, and commit to complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. In this context, recent statements about strengthening military cooperation between Russia and DPRK are deeply alarming.

Against this background, the universalisation of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) remains one of our priorities. Russia’s withdrawal of its CTBT ratification sends a deeply concerning signal to the international community seeking universalisation. Lithuania urges all States to refrain from nuclear test explosions and emphasizes the importance of maintaining the global testing moratorium.

Mister Chair,

Lithuania remains dedicated supporter of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) as well as of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), and we commend the work of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

The CWC has proven that with sufficient political will multilateralism can achieve tangible results for international security. In this context, Lithuania welcomes Syria’s cooperation with the OPCW and encourage further progress towards full compliance with the Convention.

Lithuania is deeply concerned by thousands of reports of Russia’s use of Riot Control Agents and possibly chloropicrin in Ukraine as a method of warfare, which is explicitly prohibited under the Convention. Despite mounting evidence, Russia refuses to provide a credible explanation under Article IX of CWC, and resorting instead to disinformation. Lithuania calls for full accountability and timely attribution to uphold the global norm against chemical weapons.

We would also like to highlight the issue of chemical munitions dumped at sea, which pose a latent yet growing global security threat. We urge this matter to be viewed also through a security lens, especially amid rising maritime activity, natural degradation and hybrid threats such as undersea infrastructure sabotage, including anchor dragging by Russia’s shadow fleet.

Mister Chair,

Lithuania reaffirms the vital importance of the Arms Trade Treaty and multilateral export control regimes as key pillars of the global arms control and non-proliferation framework. Effective export controls are vital to constraining aggressor states and terrorist groups. Illegal arms trafficking and diversion of military and dual-use items fuel conventional warfare, malign hybrid activities, and pose significant added risks to civilians. Together, we all must stop these materials from reaching those hostile actors, thus protecting international peace and security.

Russia‘s aggression in Ukraine is fuelled by military goods, components and dual-use items provided to Russia by certain states. We urge these states to reconsider their stance to effectively counter Russia’s malign activities.

Mister Chair,

The rapid evolution of emerging technologies is reshaping international warfighting realities on the ground. Lithuania believes that Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS), Artificial Intelligence, and other emerging capabilities must be developed and used in ways that reenforce compliance with international humanitarian law. Technologies must enhance, rather than erode, the protection of civilians. In particular, Lithuania supports continued work within the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) on LAWS and we encourage concrete, balanced outcomes.

Mister Chair,

Earlier this year, Lithuania made the sovereign decision to withdraw from the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. This followed our earlier withdrawal from the Convention on Cluster Munitions. These decisions reflect the grave and deteriorating security environment in our region, shaped by Russia’s militarization and its war of aggression against Ukraine, disrespect for International Humanitarian Law.

Let me be clear: Lithuania continues to uphold the humanitarian values that inspired the Ottawa and Oslo Conventions. We stand firmly against the indiscriminate use of weapons and remain committed to alleviating the human suffering caused by mines and explosive remnants of war. Lithuania’s joint leadership, together with Iceland, of the Demining Capability Coalition for Ukraine, demonstrates that commitment in action.

We wish to reiterate Lithuania’s strong and continuous commitment to arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation.

Thank you.