"Humanity is only one misunderstanding, one miscalculation away from nuclear annihilation," said António Guterres. Photo: Prensa Latina.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for reinforcing disarmament agreements, warning Monday that

"There is a critical juncture for collective peace and security," Guterres said at the Tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

He recalled that the meeting -which started this Monday- has been greatly delayed due to the situation generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, "but its importance and urgency have not diminished".

The climate crisis, severe inequalities, conflicts and human rights violations, as well as the personal and economic devastation caused by the pandemic, "have put our world under the greatest stress ever faced."

And this comes at a time of nuclear danger not seen since the height of the Cold War, he added, urging the international community to strengthen agreements on disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation.

“We urgently need to reinforce and reaffirm the norm, which is already 77 years old” against the use of atomic weapons, Guterres pointed out in reference to the NPT.

In addition, he called for finding practical measures to reduce the risk of nuclear war and put us back on the path of disarmament.

States seek false security by stockpiling and spending hundreds of billions of dollars on weapons that have no place on our planet, he said.

"Currently there are almost 13,000 nuclear weapons in arsenals around the world,"

emphasized the highest representative of the United Nations Organization (UN).

All this, he pointed out, at a time when the risks of proliferation are increasing and the barriers to prevent escalation are weakening, and when the crises -with nuclear nuances- are festering.

Hence, Guterres called for the "firm commitment of all party states", because humanity "is just one misunderstanding, one miscalculation away from nuclear annihilation."

Scheduled until August 26, this type of meeting, which is held every five years, is a historic international pact.

Opened for signature in 1968, it entered into force in 1970 and has been the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime ever since.

A total of 191 states parties have joined the Treaty, including the five possessors of nuclear weapons,

The International Atomic Energy Agency is charged with monitoring and enforcing those promises.

On video, statements by the UN Secretary General

(With information from Prensa Latina)