Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri delivered India’s statement at the 2026 High-Level Segment of the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, emphasising the critical importance of strategic stability, arms control, and reducing global security risks. He highlighted concerns about the weakening of long-standing arms control treaties, including the expiry of the New START nuclear arms reduction pact, calling it a setback that could fuel a renewed arms race if decisive action is not taken. India reiterated its commitment to a credible minimum deterrent and a ‘no-first use’ nuclear doctrine, while advocating for universal, non-discriminatory, and verifiable nuclear disarmament through a step-by-step multilateral framework.
Misri underlined the growing role of emerging technologies — notably artificial intelligence — in military applications, stressing that human judgement and oversight must remain central in defence contexts to mitigate risks and ensure alignment with international humanitarian law. He pointed to India’s national framework for evaluating trustworthy military AI as a model that could help shape global norms for responsible adoption, emphasising principles like reliability, safety, and transparency.
The Foreign Secretary also drew attention to wider threats such as the risk of weapons of mass destruction being used by terrorist groups, stressing the need for collective, preventive measures. In addition, he highlighted India’s recent AI Impact Summit 2026 — which produced the New Delhi Declaration on inclusive and ethical AI deployment — underscoring the benefits of cooperation on technology that supports development and social inclusion, especially for Global South countries.
Beyond nuclear issues, Misri called for outer space to remain a realm of cooperation rather than conflict, backing negotiations on a legally binding instrument to prevent an arms race in space. He also referenced India’s engagement in global biosecurity and disarmament efforts, including the 50th anniversary of the Biological Weapons Convention, and urged all states at the forum to show political will and prioritise collective security interests through constructive dialogue and sustained multilateral engagement.
