G7 voices concern over China’s 'significant nuclear weapons build-up'

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) -The Group of Seven (G7) countries on Wednesday expressed concern over China’s "significant nuclear weapons build-up," which they claimed "lacks transparency and meaningful safeguards" against unintended nuclear escalation.

In a joint statement, the Non-Proliferation Directors Group, a forum where the G7—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US, as well as the EU—aims to maintain international arms control and disarmament, noted "an increasingly uncertain security environment."

"We are convinced that, in an increasingly uncertain security environment, meaningful progress on disarmament, non-proliferation, and arms control will require sustained engagement and mutual understanding from all concerned parties," it noted.

Regarding the rising demand for nuclear energy, the statement said they will collaborate to ensure that civil nuclear programs around the world adhere to the highest international safety, security, and safeguards standards, guidelines, and recommendations.

"We reiterate our principled opposition to the proliferation of nuclear weapons as detrimental to international peace and security," added the G7 statement.

Expressing that they "remain resolute in seeking peace and stability in the Middle East," the G7 reiterated that Iran "can never have or acquire a nuclear weapon."

"We call for the resumption of negotiations aimed at achieving a comprehensive, verifiable, and durable agreement that addresses Iran’s nuclear program."

They also urged Iran to refrain from "any escalatory action" and to urgently resume full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), including by providing verifiable information about all nuclear material in Iran.

Last month, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a law suspending cooperation with the IAEA, following Israeli and US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities in June.

- Further ramping up sanctions against Russia, if ceasefire not reached

Turning to China, the G7 statement said: "We are concerned with China’s significant nuclear weapons build-up, which lacks transparency and meaningful safeguards against unintended nuclear escalation."

It also expressed that the G7 seeks Russia’s return to full compliance with the New START Treaty, a nuclear arms reduction treaty between the US and Russia, aiming to halve the number of strategic nuclear missile launchers.

Condemning Russia’s war against Ukraine, the G7 reaffirmed support for Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity and right to exist, and its freedom, sovereignty, and independence.

"We welcome ongoing efforts to achieve a full and unconditional ceasefire and to negotiate a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in line with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations," they noted.

However, it added: "So long as such a ceasefire is not reached, we will continue to explore all options, such as further ramping up sanctions against Russia."

The statement also reiterated the G7 commitment to the "complete denuclearization" of North Korea, demanding that North Korea abandon all nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.

The statement also commends Syria for its commitment to eliminate the Assad regime’s chemical weapons and stands ready to support the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to seize this historic opportunity.