In his opening statement, IAEA Director General Grossi skillfully positioned the IAEA as an important international player and highlighted its achievements. The general debate, which attracted numerous ministers and high-level representatives, revealed the diverging priorities of the member states. The West is concerned with nuclear safety and security in Ukraine and the safeguards in Iran and the DPRK, while the Global South wants to discuss technical cooperation and technology transfers. RUS and CHN are taking advantage of this and positioning themselves as willing partners and exporters. Furthermore, geopolitical interests are currently overshadowing the common interests in a strong nuclear non-proliferation architecture and the safe and secure development of nuclear energy and nuclear applications. This can be seen, among other things, in the debates on the Iranian and North Korean nuclear programmes, on AUKUS, the nuclear facilities in Ukraine, etc.

In substantive terms, Switzerland should maintain its current course and continue to invest in its high level of credibility in the IAEA context. Its balanced political positions and regular voluntary financial contributions are very much needed and appreciated. In the context of the nuclear challenges in Ukraine, it should be carefully examined whether a further contribution to the IAEA missions in Ukraine is possible. The IAEA General Conference remains one of the most important conferences in the multilateral calendar and offers Switzerland high-level access to the delegations present and the IAEA Secretariat.