Statement by Permanent Representative of Belarus L.Belskaya at Plenary Meeting of Conference on Disarmament (January 20, 2026, Geneva)

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Statement by Permanent Representative of Belarus L.Belskaya at Plenary Meeting of Conference on Disarmament (January 20, 2026, Geneva)

Madam President,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, allow me to congratulate the Ambassador of Mongolia (Davaasuren Gerelmaa) on assuming the Presidency of the Conference. I wish you and the entire 2026 team of Presidents success in leading our forum during this difficult period of its history and activity.

The crisis in international relations and the ongoing transformation of the global geopolitical landscape are accompanied by rising tensions, conflict potential, and the further fragmentation of the international security system. All of this is reflected in the activities of the Conference on Disarmament, exacerbating long-standing problems and giving rise to new challenges.

The disregard by several countries for the principles of equal and indivisible security, attempts to expand spheres of influence at any cost - including through NATO expansion - and interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states have triggered an unprecedented crisis of confidence. This has led to the degradation of the security architecture on the European continent, culminating in the conflict in Ukraine, which unfortunately continues despite the efforts of many states, including the USA, China, Brazil, Turkey, and my own country, Belarus, to facilitate the launch of a peaceful negotiation process.

In the past year and the beginning of this year, the world watched with alarm the unprecedented events of armed aggression against Iran and Venezuela, which threaten to significantly undermine security in the Middle East and Latin American regions.

We see how the escalation of interstate contradictions and the persistent implementation of the "peace through strength" principle stimulate increased military spending and fuel the spiral of the arms race, including in outer space. Armed conflicts are being used as testing grounds for new types of weapons and military technologies. It is time to reflect on the price paid for this "progress" by the people who perish in conflicts or are turned into migrants and refugees.

Intensified militarization in various regions of the world, particularly in Europe, against the backdrop of deepening military-political confrontation, significantly increases the risks of a global armed conflict.

In these conditions, the importance of professional and mutually respectful dialogue grows exponentially. As President Aleksandr Lukashenko states: "We need dialogue. We cannot look at each other through the sights of an assault rifle... We must always talk. When people do not talk, war draws closer."

Madam President,

Multilateral mechanisms in the field of disarmament, non-proliferation, and arms control, which for a long time served as the connective tissue of the international and regional security architecture, are now stagnating and, in some cases, collapsing. We do not have to look far for examples. We have all witnessed the dismantling of the INF Treaty and the CFE Treaty. In just two weeks, the Russian-American Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) will expire. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) has still not entered into force. The viability of the Mine Ban Convention is declining due to the withdrawal of several of our Western neighbors.

We express deep regret that the Conference on Disarmament remains unable to fulfill its function as a unique negotiating platform for disarmament, non-proliferation, and arms control due to an imbalance of interests and fundamental disagreements regarding the ways to ensure national, regional, and international security. As the Head of State noted during the III Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security: "Arms control and confidence-building measures are incomparably more beneficial and cheaper than an arms race. The historical choice is simple: detente or escalation. Therefore, let us choose detente immediately. The sooner we do this, the better it will be for us and for future generations."

We do not have an immediate recipe for rectifying the situation at the Conference; however, I believe that the search for consensus is impossible without efforts and attempts to at least hear one's opponents and try to understand the essence of their concerns. This applies primarily to the key international players and the permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Madam President,

Belarus supports the approval of the "traditional" Agenda of the CD presented by you, including the resumption of discussions within the framework of subsidiary bodies.

Among its priorities for the 2026 CD session, the Belarusian delegation would like to highlight the prohibition of the development and manufacture of new types of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and new systems of such weapons.

Since 1996, Belarus has initiated the adoption of a relevant resolution by the UN General Assembly. Belarus is grateful to the countries that have supported our initiative. During the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, the Belarusian side also plans to submit the traditional draft resolution: "Prohibition of the development and manufacture of new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons: report of the Conference on Disarmament."

Belarus supports proposals regarding the expediency of developing a universal international treaty (convention) at the CD on the prohibition of the development and manufacture of new types of WMD and new systems of such weapons. The development and adoption of such an international document would serve the interests of the world community, creating a solid legal basis and contributing to the achievement of coordinated approaches to banning the production of new types of WMD before their production becomes a reality.

Madam President,

Belarus values the uniqueness of the CD as a multilateral negotiating platform of global significance in the field of disarmament and arms control. We hope that the Conference will succeed in overcoming stagnation and contradictions through the efforts of all interested member states and begin substantive work in accordance with its mandate.

Thank you for your attention.

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