MONGOLIA ASSUMES THE PRESIDENCY OF THE CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT

On 20 January, Mongolia, as the first President of the 2026 session of the Conference on Disarmament (CD), convened the opening plenary meeting at the United Nations Office at Geneva. The meeting was presided over by H.E. Ms. Gerelmaa Davaasuren, Permanent Representative of Mongolia to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

In her opening remarks, the Permanent Representative expressed Mongolia’s gratitude to Member States for the confidence placed in her country and affirmed that the Presidency would be carried out with fairness, transparency, and a commitment to genuine cooperation. She underscored that 2026 is a particularly significant year for multilateral disarmament, marked by the Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non‑Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and intensified discussions on emerging weapons systems.

As a country with a nuclear‑weapon‑free status and a long‑standing advocate of peaceful, rules based international cooperation, Mongolia reiterated its determination to contribute actively to advancing the work of the CD. Ambassador Davaasuren emphasized that, amid deepening strategic mistrust, the Conference remains an indispensable platform for dialogue, diplomacy, and shared responsibility.

The 2026 session will proceed in three parts. During its Presidency, Mongolia aims to facilitate results‑oriented discussions on key agenda items, including nuclear disarmament, negative security assurances, the prevention of an arms race in outer space, and the governance of emerging military technologies.

Delegations participating in the opening meeting conveyed their best wishes to Mongolia and highlighted the growing importance of the CD in the current geopolitical environment. They also underlined the need for renewed political will to overcome the longstanding stalemate. The agenda for the 2026 session was adopted during the meeting, providing a clear basis for the work ahead. The meeting was open to the public and broadcast live by UN Geneva.

The Conference on Disarmament, composed of 65 Member States, is the United Nations’ sole permanent multilateral disarmament negotiating forum. It addresses issues central to international peace and security, including nuclear disarmament, preventing new forms of arms competition, and strengthening security assurances. Its ability to bring Member States closer together, rebuild confidence, and create space for progress makes the CD a uniquely important body within the multilateral system.