The United States delivered its opening statement at the 2025 Session of the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, Switzerland. Acting Permanent Representative Alison Storsve addressed the assembly, emphasizing continuity and commitment to global nonproliferation amid a new U.S. administration.
Storsve welcomed Italy's Ambassador Bencini as the first president of this year's session and congratulated colleagues on past achievements at the UN First Committee. She noted that political transitions in the U.S. would influence their work but reaffirmed America's long-standing dedication to disarmament efforts.
"The multilateral issues on our agenda are more difficult, but also more critical, than they have been in decades," Storsve stated. Despite challenges in disarmament diplomacy, she expressed optimism about incremental progress and acknowledged shared frustrations over years without actual negotiations.
Storsve highlighted last year's Decision on Work as a tool to break cycles of ineffectiveness within the Conference on Disarmament (CD). She mentioned an agreement among members to maintain continuity by re-adopting mandates for subsidiary bodies created in 2024.
"Picking up where we left off will enable us to hold the maximum number of meetings on each topic," she said, indicating plans to negotiate mandates for progress identified for 2026.
The U.S. delegation aims to engage actively with all five subsidiary bodies, articulate positions advancing national interests, listen to other views, and seek consensus when possible. Storsve concluded by expressing hopes for a successful year ahead and revitalizing the CD's role as a proficient organization ready to fulfill its mandate.