US Ambassador to UN: World Nuclear Ban ‘Not Realistic’

Nikki Haley, the United States ambassador to United Nations has said that a worldwide nuclear ban is simply not realistic, as nearly 40 countries stayed away from talks on the subject.

However, about 40 countries including United States, Britain and France that are equipped with nuclear weapons have skipped a UN meeting to discuss a new treaty and more than 120 others endorsed a plan for a legally binding nuclear ban.

United States envoy has said that national security required nuclear arms because of ‘bad actors’ that could not be trusted.

“In this day and time, we cannot honestly say that we can protect our people by allowing the bad actors to have them and those of us that are good trying to keep peace and safety, not to have them.” said Ms. Haley.

“There is nothing I want more for my family than a world with no nuclear weapons, but we have to be realistic.” she added.

The United Nations conference to negotiate a legally binding nuclear ban treaty was announced in October.

Britain, France, Israel, Russia and the United States voted against the nuclear ban treaty while China, India and Pakistan abstained.

In addition; Japan, the only country that has suffered atomic attacks in 1945 also voted against the talks.

Nobushige Takamizawa, Japan’s disarmament ambassador has said that working on a treaty without the involvement of nuclear weapon state would only deepen the division in the international community.

Meanwhile; Margot Wallstrom, the Swedish Foreign Minister, whose country is leading the calls for a total ban ‘leading towards nuclear weapons’ total elimination’ along with Austria, Ireland, Mexico, Brazil and South Africa said that she expected this would “take a long time”.

Countries that are not attending including United States and United Kingdom remain committed to the Non-Proliferation Treaty which entered into force in 1970 and is aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology.