Prime Minister Jotham Napat has reaffirmed Vanuatu’s firm position against nuclear weapons, emphasizing that climate change—not nuclear threats—should be the foremost concern on the global security agenda.

Speaking in Parliament this week, Napat highlighted the shifting geopolitical landscape and the growing arms race, underscoring the need for constructive dialogue and greater transparency from nuclear-armed states.

“Over the past few years, we have witnessed a major shift not only in national but also regional and international security. Wars that were predicted to last for days continue unresolved. The geopolitical influence in various regions has prompted alliances to counter foreign influences,” he stated.

A Legacy of Advocacy for a Nuclear-Free Pacific

Napat reaffirmed Vanuatu’s unwavering commitment to nuclear disarmament, a stance that has remained unchanged since the nation’s independence. Vanuatu has long championed the Pacific Nuclear Free Zone and has ratified several key international treaties, including:

• The South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty (Rarotonga Treaty) – 1996
• The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) – 2018
• The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) – 2005
• The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) – 1995
• The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) – 2016
• The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) – 2005
• The Arms Trade Treaty – 2013

Given the current nuclear arms race and the threats posed by nuclear-armed states, Napat called for deeper collaboration, urging nuclear nations to engage in transparent and accountable dialogue for global peace and security.

“We live in a global village where we are interdependent, regardless of whether we are great or small. Vanuatu remains committed to the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders’ vision for a ‘Region of Peace’ and the MSG’s Efate Declaration on Respect, Responsibility, Cooperation, and Amity,” he said.

Climate Change: The Real Existential Threat

Napat also warned against prioritizing military buildup over urgent climate action. He stressed that Vanuatu, positioned on the Pacific Ring of Fire, faces imminent threats from climate-related disasters, including rising temperatures, wildfires, Category 5 cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, drought, and ocean acidification.

“The journey to Armageddon has already begun. As responsible leaders, we must set our priorities straight and strategize on how our people can face an uncertain future without sinking. No country today is or will be spared from the impacts of climate change,” he warned.

The Prime Minister also condemned recent nuclear tests in the Pacific, calling them a blatant disregard for international peace agreements. While acknowledging the right of nuclear-armed states to develop deterrence strategies, he stressed the need for continued transparency and accountability, particularly regarding the AUKUS partnership’s nuclear-powered submarine program.

A Call for Accountability and Global Cooperation

Napat urged nuclear states to uphold their commitments under the NPT and ensure periodic reporting on disarmament progress. He called for legally binding assurances that non-nuclear states will never face nuclear threats.

“The trust deficit and crisis of confidence in nuclear disarmament confront us all. Vanuatu calls for stronger guarantees to reassure the international community and urges nuclear states to honor their own commitments,” he stated.

Concluding his address, Napat reinforced Vanuatu’s stance:

“Climate change should be the global security priority—not nuclear arms. The fate of any country depends on its climate resilience, not on the number of nuclear weapons in its possession.”

The Prime Minister’s speech was the final agenda item of the first extraordinary parliamentary session of the year, which concluded on Friday, March 28.