Ambassador Robert Wood: Remarks At the Final Plenary Meeting of CD’s 2020 Session
The United States has shown much flexibility during this negotiation. And we will continue to work with you and other delegations to pass a final report.
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Ambassador Robert Wood: Remarks at the Conference on Disarmament Plenary
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the United States, I congratulate you on your assumption of the CD Presidency and assure you of my delegation’s support as you guide us through the closure of the 2020 session.
Read More» Ambassador Robert Wood: Statement at the Conference on Disarmament
Every CD Member State, indeed, Mr. President, every nation on Earth, should insist, as a matter of international peace and security, that China engage on nuclear arms control, transparency, and confidence building with the United States and the Russian Federation without further delay.
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U.S. Statement at the 2019 Session of the Conference on Disarmament
Ambassador Wood: “Today is the day many members of the Conference on Disarmament have been waiting for since May 27: the end of the disastrous and illegitimate CD presidency of the former Maduro regime in Venezuela.”
Read More» Arms Control and International Security: Lessons From Disarmament History for the CEND Initiative
When we emphasize the degree to which the CEND initiative learns lessons from the past about how it is futile — and can be counterproductive — to try to address disarmament issues without considering the underlying circumstances of the security environment in which disarmament-related decisions take place, we are not just making idle assumptions. This …
Read More» Nuclear Disarmament Colloquium: Closing Remarks
As we work with international partners to make this emerging dialogue a reality, I think the approach and the insights that animate today’s colloquium are precisely the right ones. I think we all share a commitment to bringing into being a world that is not only free of nuclear weapons, but is also one in …
Read More» CCW GGE: Potential Challenges Posed by Emerging Technologies in the Area of LAWS to IHL
Mr. Chair, let me briefly address some of the questions in the program of work before expounding in a bit more detail how legal reviews can contribute to IHL compliance.
Read More» Convention on CCW GGE: Consideration of the Human Element in the Use of Lethal Force
The key issue for human-machine interaction in emerging technologies in the area of LAWS is ensuring that machines help effectuate the intention of commanders and the operators of weapon systems.
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Our Vision for a Constructive, Collaborative Disarmament Discourse
Assistant Secretary Christopher Ford: “The United States is in the process of developing implementation plans for a pathbreaking new initiative aimed at bringing countries together in a constructive dialogue exploring ways in which it might be possible to ameliorate conditions in the global security environment so as to make that environment more conducive to further …
Read More» Convention on CCW GGE: Characterization of the Systems under Consideration
The United States Supports identifying general characteristics of systems that should be under the GGE’s consideration.
Read More» U.S. Statement on LAWS: Potential Military Applications of Advanced Technology
The United States believes that discussion of the possible options for addressing the humanitarian and international security challenges posed by emerging technologies in the area of LAWS must involve consideration of how these technologies can be used to enhance the protection of the civilian population against the effects of hostilities.
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Statement by Assistant Secretary Poblete at the Conference on Disarmament
“Let me reiterate that the United States remains committed to arms control efforts and remains receptive to future arms control negotiations if conditions permit.”
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Remarks by Ambassador Wood to the Mine Action Support Group
“We are happy to host you and the Mine Action Support Group (MASG) again this year. The MASG serves a very important role in the international donor community.”
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U.S. Statement by Ambassador Wood at the 2019 Session of the Conference on Disarmament
Today, I would like to speak with you about the importance of compliance with arms control obligations and the consequences when states violate arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament agreements and commitments. As Secretary Pompeo has said, “when treaties are broken, the violators must be confronted, and the treaties must be fixed or discarded. Words should …
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Statement on Venezuela at the 2018 BWC Meeting of States Parties
Ambassador Wood: “Mr. Chairman, the United States cannot accept the choice of Venezuela as one of the Vice Chairs of the BWC Meeting of States Parties.”
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U.S. General Statement at the 2018 BWC Meeting Of States Parties
Ambassador Wood: “Mr. Chairman, the BWC is confronted by a range of substantive challenges arising from the threat of biological weapons.”
Read More» Remarks at the Fourth Special Session to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention
One of the founding principles of the CWC is to “exclude completely the possibility of use of chemical weapons, through implementation of the provisions” of the CWC. The success of this principle depends entirely on all States Parties’ compliance with their obligations. When States Parties fail to meet these obligations, they must be held accountable.
Read More» Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons: Protocol V on Explosive Remnants of War
The U.S. Delegation appreciates Iraq’s efforts to focus our discussions this year on the clearance of explosive remnants of war, or ERW. The United States has long supported efforts to clear ERW in Iraq, and we are proud of the cooperative partnership that we have developed with the government of Iraq in addressing the danger …
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Joint Statement on Syria’s Presidency of the Conference on Disarmament
Ambassador Wood: “This joint statement reflects the great concern a number of countries have about the damage Syria’s CD presidency has done to Conference.”
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Assistant Secretary Poblete Addresses the Conference on Disarmament
United States Remarks at the Conference on Disarmament As delivered by Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Verification and Compliance Yleem D.S. Poblete Geneva, Switzerland August 14, 2018 Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, all. Mr. President, I would like to bring to the attention of this body a matter related to outer space …
Read More» Syria has Neither the Credibility nor the Moral Authority to Assume the Presidency of the CD
Ambassador Robert Wood: Simply put, it is a travesty that the Syrian regime – which continues to indiscriminately slaughter its own people with weapons banned by the Chemical Weapons Convention – should presume to preside over this body.
Read More» Ambassador Robert Wood: NPT PrepCom Cluster 2 – Nonproliferation
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is an enduring foundation for the common security interests of all states.
Read More» Ambassador Robert Wood: NPT PrepCom Cluster 1: Nuclear Disarmament and Security Assurances
The 2018 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to efforts in support of the ultimate elimination of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons.
Read More» U.S. Statement on the Outcome of the GGE
The United States continues to believe, per the conclusion from the GGE meeting in November, that the CCW offers “an appropriate framework for dealing with the issue of emerging technologies in the area of lethal autonomous weapons systems.”
Read More» U.S. Statement on Possible Options for Addressing the Humanitarian and International Security Challenges Posed by Emerging Technologies
The United States remains interested in sharing practice on weapons reviews with a view towards more States understanding their usefulness in improving States’ implementation of their existing legal obligations and for States that currently conduct such reviews to have an opportunity to learn about good practices of others.
Read More» U.S. Statement on the Human Element in the Use of Force
The human element in the use of lethal force is an important topic in the area of lethal autonomous weapons systems, and we share our own experience in this regard.
Read More» CCW: U.S. Statement on Characterization of the Systems under Consideration
U.S. Department of Defense policy does not use definitions to decide in the abstract what may be good or bad uses of autonomy. The GGE should also not create characterizations based upon abstract conceptions of autonomy.
Read More» U.S. Statement at CCW GGE Meeting on LAWS
The United States continues to believe that it is unnecessary for the GGE to adopt a specific working definition of LAWS.
Read More» CCW: U.S. Opening Statement at the Group of Governmental Experts Meeting on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems
The United States welcomes this first session of the 2018 GGE, and we look forward to continuing the valuable discussions started last November.
Read More» Ambassador Wood’s Remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the 4th Afghanistan Donor Coordination Workshop for Mine Action
The United States is proud to support the humanitarian mine action sector in Afghanistan. Eliminating explosive hazards from communities is essential to achieving peace and stability.
Read More» Statement by Ambassador Robert A. Wood to the Conference on Disarmament
I would like to thank the Secretary General for addressing the Conference on Disarmament today and to welcome the Ministers and colleagues from capitals who have joined us.
Read More» Remarks by President Trump on the Administration’s National Security Strategy
“Our government’s first duty is to its people, to our citizens—to serve their needs, to ensure their safety, to preserve their rights, and to defend their values.”
Read More» Intervention by U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis at Session One of the North Atlantic Council
Our nations stand together united in common cause. NATO is a stabilizing force in Europe, it helps preserve the rules-based international order globally, and ultimately, it serves to keep the peace and defend shared values that grew out of the Enlightenment.
Read More» Biography of Ambassador Robert Wood, U.S. Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament
U.S. Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament and U.S. Special Representative for Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC) Issues Ambassador Robert A. Wood serves as the U.S. Representative to the Conference on Disarmament and as U.S. Special Representative for Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC) Issues. He was confirmed by the United States Senate …
Read More» Ambassador Wood Presents His Credentials
Ambassador Robert Wood presented his credentials today to Michael Møller, Acting Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva.
Read More» Joint Statement on the P5 Beijing Conference: Enhancing Strategic Confidence and Working Together to Implement the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Review Ou
The five Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty nuclear-weapon states, or P5, met in Beijing under the chairmanship of the People’s Republic of China, to build on the 2009 London, 2011 Paris, 2012 Washington, and 2013 Russian-hosted Geneva P5 conferences
Read More» Obama on Reducing Threat of Nuclear Weapons
Missile by missile, warhead by warhead, shell by shell, we’re putting a bygone era behind us. Inspired by Sam Nunn and Dick Lugar, we’re moving closer to the future we seek. A future where these weapons never threaten our children again.
Read More» UN First Committee Conventional Weapons Statement
The United States is steadfast in its commitment to achieve a strong ATT that will respond to the adverse impacts of the illicit international arms trade on global peace and stability.
Read More» Five Permanent UN Representatives Support Mongolia’s Nuclear-Weapon-Free Status
The P5 affirmed their intent to respect Mongolia’s nuclear-weapon-free status and not to contribute to any act that would violate it.
Read More» Archive: Laura E. Kennedy, U.S. Ambassador to the Conference on Disarmament (March 2010- May 2013)
Ambassador Kennedy, a Minister Counselor in the Foreign Service, presented her credentials to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on March 22, 2010. She most recently served as International Affairs Advisor and Deputy Commandant of the National War College.
Read More» G8 Nuclear Safety and Security Group Summit Report
We welcome continued cooperation, under the auspices of the IAEA with other relevant international organizations in this area, and will promote strong and competent national nuclear safety and security frameworks and cultures
Read More» Statement by U/S Gottemoeller
The US is disappointed that Pakistan did not agree to the Conference on Disarmament (CD)’s Program of Work in Geneva
Read More» Ambassador Kennedy on the Future of the Conference on Disarmament
The international community has previously agreed on the importance of FMCT, and on pursuing FMCT in the Conference on Disarmament.
Read More» U.S.-EU Joint Declaration on U.N. Nonproliferation Resolutions
The United States and European Union signed a joint declaration today in New York reiterating our shared commitment to full and comprehensive implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) 1540 and 1977.
Read More» P-5 Meeting in Geneva
Following up on their commitment made during the July Paris Conference, the P-5 met in Geneva on August 30 to take stock of developments regarding the Conference on Disarmament (CD).
Read More» Secretary Clinton to speak in Geneva at Human Rights Council and Conference on Disarmament
We made a determination in this Administration to join the Human Rights Council. I think it’s proven to be a good decision because we’ve been able to influence a number of actions that we otherwise would have been on the outside looking in. There are a number of issues on that agenda that we will …
Read More» Debate on Outer Space (Disarmament Aspects) of the General Assembly’s First Committee
Space systems have taken us to other celestial bodies and extended humankind’s horizons back in time to the very first moments of the universe and out to the galaxies at its far reaches. Satellites contribute to increased transparency and stability among nations and provide a vital communications path for avoiding potential conflicts. Space systems allow …
Read More» Thematic Debate: “Other Weapons of Mass Destruction”
The United States continues to work diligently on nuclear arms control, nonproliferation and disarmament to advance President Obama’s vision of a world without nuclear weapons. But it would be grossly irresponsible not to work as well toward excluding completely the possibility of chemical and biological agents and toxins being uses as weapons.
Read More» Remarks by Ambassador Kennedy at the Middle Powers Initiative Conference
The commitment’s there, the record’s there, and we’re building on it. START of course, will bring down, for example, our warheads 84 percent. As you know, the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee is poised to vote on Thursday before bringing the treaty to the Senate as a whole for ratification. The President and Secretary of …
Read More» Photo Album: Diplomats at UN Geneva Celebrate World Cup South Africa Kickoff Day!
Today, Friday June 11 is Kickoff Day for the 2010 World Cup, the first FIFA World Cup ever held on the African continent. U.S. Diplomats took up the invitation of the Permanent Mission of South Africa for diplomats from qualifying countries to wear their national jerseys to the United Nations on Fridays during the duration …
Read More» Press Conference with Assistant Secretary Daniel Fried – Georgia Talks
The Georgia talks here at Geneva have experienced an intensive day of work, day and a half of work. We had a significant success, agreement on proposals for joint incident prevention and response mechanisms. That is a significant step forward. It’s positive, it’s practical. Agreement on this document was achieved despite the fundamental differences between …
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