Vatican diplomat expresses 'profound concern' about nuclear landscape (Holy See Mission)

Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis, the apostolic nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, expressed profound concern regarding the current nuclear landscape during a recent UN committee meeting. He noted that nuclear arsenals are undergoing modernization and expansion while rhetoric regarding their potential use increases.

Archbishop El-Kassis stated that integrating artificial intelligence and emerging technologies into nuclear systems introduces risks by affecting decisions with incalculable consequences. He argued that these developments highlight the flaws in nuclear deterrence, noting that a security model based on the threat of catastrophic destruction is vulnerable to miscalculation and escalation.

The Holy See reaffirmed its support for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and called for the respect of existing international commitments. Additionally, the prelate encouraged efforts to prevent the militarization of outer space and reiterated a call for a legally binding instrument to prohibit lethal autonomous weapons systems.