Guterres Urges Nuclear States to Halt Testing on August 29

On August 29, 2026, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on all nuclear-armed states to maintain existing moratoria on nuclear testing and to urgently work towards bringing the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty into force. This message was issued to mark the International Day Against Nuclear Tests, which serves to remind the global community of the human and environmental impacts of nuclear explosions.

Guterres highlighted that 2026 marks 30 years since the treaty opened for signature and 35 years since the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site in Kazakhstan. He emphasized that nuclear tests do not demonstrate national strength but instead erode trust, provoke counter-tests, and escalate arms races.

Guterres particularly noted the ongoing suffering of communities affected by past nuclear tests, stating that their experiences serve as a warning. He concluded with a call for renewed global commitment to end nuclear testing entirely.