On March 17, 2026, endorsed by 50 members of the Order of Canada, Canadian Leadership for Nuclear Disarmament (https://pugwashgroup.ca/clnd/), a project of the Canadian Pugwash Group, called on the Government of Canada to convene a meeting of middle-power nations to rescue the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
“The NPT has served the international community well since its inception as reflected in the unanimous support for the treaty’s indefinite extension in 1995. But in recent years failures in implementation have eroded the foundation of trust amongst the powers. The nuclear weapon states, far from reducing their nuclear weapon arsenals, have built them up via major modernization programs,” the group writes. “The risks of nuclear proliferation have been stoked by irresponsible actions on the part of nuclear-armed powers spurring some non-nuclear weapon states to openly reconsider their position of nuclear abstinence.”
However, there is a way forward, CLND argues: “Fortunately, some middle powers amongst the NPT states have been aware of the mounting threat to the viability of the treaty and have engaged in efforts to strengthen it. These 22 non-nuclear weapon states comprise two groupings: the 14 member Stockholm Initiative on Nuclear Disarmament and the 12-member Non-proliferation and Disarmament Initiative. Canada, Japan, Germany and the Netherlands are members of both of these cross-regional groupings. Concerted action by the states belonging to the Stockholm Initiative and the NPDI could have a great impact on the upcoming review conference, but will need a leader to coordinate their efforts.” The CLND makes the case that Canada should be, and can be, that leader.
Read the full CLND statement below.