UN News Service/P. Mi Peace Park in Nagasaki. UN Secretary General: Nagasaki reminds the world of the true horror of nuclear war Peace and Security
81 years after the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, the risk of miscalculation and escalation of conflict continues to grow, and the long-term trend towards reduction of nuclear arsenals has been reversed. This was stated by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a message on the anniversary of the tragedy.
The Secretary-General’s message at the commemorative ceremony on August 9 was read by the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu.
“Eighty-one years ago, the Nagasaki tragedy showed the destructive power of humanity,” the message said.
The UN chief paid tribute to the memory victims, and also paid tribute to several generations of residents who rebuilt the city, “turning tragedy into triumph.” He especially noted the hibakusha – people who survived the atomic bombings.
The risk continues to grow
The Secretary General warned that the world is going through a period of deep geopolitical tension. Trust is eroding, norms that helped prevent nuclear holocaust are being eroded, and a decades-long trend toward nuclear stockpile reductions is reversing.
Meanwhile, global military spending has risen to $2.9 trillion in 2025, and “nuclear saber rattling” is once again becoming part of the international rhetoric.
“Year after year, the risk of miscalculation, escalation and conflict continues to grow. This is unacceptable. Humanity must not live under constant threat,” said the Secretary General.
However, he noted, history shows that even in times of intense competition, cooperation can prevail and progress remains possible. However, this requires political will, as well as an understanding of the interdependence of the security of states and the fact that nuclear weapons only increase uncertainty.
“Nagasaki is both a warning and a guide”
According to Guterres, the path to a peaceful future lies through building trust and investing in the “instruments of peace” – dialogue, diplomacy and cooperation – and not into weapons of war.
All states, especially those possessing nuclear weapons, must take measures to reduce risks and move towards complete disarmament, he emphasized. The Secretary-General also called for renewed commitment to the global disarmament regime that has helped prevent nuclear disaster for decades.
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“Together we can ensure that the future is defined not by competition and risk, but by cooperation and stability,” he said.
“Today, Nagasaki serves as both a warning and a guide. He calls us not only to remember, but also to act. He calls on us to restore trust, strengthen cooperation and choose diplomacy over division,” the message reads.
The Secretary-General called on us to honor the courage of the hibakusha not only in words but also in actions and reaffirmed that the UN will always support efforts to build a world in which peace and security are based not on fear, but on common purpose.