Conference Chief Seeks to Rebuild NPT Credibility: An Interview with Ambassador Do Hung Viet of Vietnam, President of the 2026 NPT Review Conference

Why It Matters

A successful NPT review can preserve the global non‑proliferation regime and prevent a resurgence of nuclear arms competition, which is vital for international security and stable energy markets.

Key Takeaways

• 190 states parties, five nuclear-weapon states.
• Viet plans early draft outcome document mid‑conference.
• Emphasis on inclusive, transparent consultation process.
• Goal: universalize comprehensive safeguards agreements.
• Geopolitical tensions risk derailing consensus.

Pulse Analysis

The 2026 NPT Review Conference arrives at a crossroads for the world’s most widely‑adopted arms‑control treaty. Since its inception in 1970, the Non‑Proliferation Treaty has limited the number of nuclear‑weapon states to five and created a framework for peaceful nuclear energy use under IAEA oversight. However, recent crises—Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, heightened U.S.-Iran tensions, and renewed nuclear ambitions in several regions—have strained the treaty’s credibility. Understanding this backdrop helps stakeholders gauge why the upcoming conference’s outcomes could reshape the balance between disarmament aspirations and geopolitical realities.

Ambassador Do Hung Viet’s strategy centers on procedural innovation and broader participation. By holding four regional workshops and consulting directly with all nuclear‑weapon states, he seeks to address long‑standing grievances about exclusion and opaque decision‑making. His proposal to circulate a draft outcome document by the conference’s second week aims to give delegations ample time for negotiation, potentially avoiding the stalemates that plagued the 2022 RevCon. This inclusive approach reflects a growing recognition that multilateral credibility hinges on transparent processes as much as on substantive language.

The conference’s success will be measured not only by a consensus document but also by concrete steps such as universalizing the IAEA’s comprehensive safeguards agreement and advancing nuclear‑weapon‑free‑zone initiatives. If Viet can align divergent interests—ranging from Iran’s safeguard access to Middle‑East WMD‑free‑zone ambitions—the NPT could emerge with renewed momentum, reinforcing global non‑proliferation norms and supporting stable nuclear energy development. Conversely, failure to bridge these divides may erode confidence in multilateral arms‑control mechanisms, prompting states to pursue unilateral security paths. The stakes are high, and the world will be watching how diplomatic craftsmanship shapes the treaty’s future.