Five Nuclear Powers Engage in Strategic Risk Reduction Talks, Advancing Nuclear Policy Dialogue

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WASHINGTON, DC (Reuters) As part of a regular and ongoing dialogue, the United States recently held meetings with China, France, Russia and the United Kingdom to discuss nuclear weapons concerns, including strategic risk reduction. The talks were held in Cairo on June 13-14 and were attended by working-level experts from foreign and defense ministries, the foreign ministry said in a statement.


White House National Security Press Secretary John Kirby said the meeting was part of an ongoing exchange aimed at maintaining open lines of communication between the five nuclear powers. Discussions covered a variety of themes, including nuclear doctrine, policy, and strategic risk reduction.

The conference was held under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which entered into force in 1970, under which the five nuclear-weapon states express their commitment to curb the proliferation of nuclear weapons while retaining their own nuclear arsenals. The NPT serves to prevent proliferation of nuclear weapons capabilities and guarantees member states the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

This latest meeting follows a previous meeting in Dubai in February, also held as part of the NPT Dialogue, where expert representatives engaged in productive discussions. A State Department spokesman declined to say whether bilateral talks had taken place, but expressed satisfaction with the professionalism and usefulness of both sides’ multilateral talks.

As the chair of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, the United States has been active in fostering dialogue among the nuclear-weapon states to promote strategic risk reduction and uphold the principles outlined in the treaty.

These talks reflect the international community’s continued efforts to address the nuclear weapons issue, increase transparency, and maintain strong global security.