New York — The war in Ukraine has exposed fundamental flaws in nuclear deterrence. It depends on the assumption that leaders act rationally and that threats are credible—assumptions that break down, especially during conflict. Beyond the risk of use, nuclear weapons threaten us simply by existing; the resources devoted to them divert attention from achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and rebuilding a post‑pandemic world. Consequently, they impact many priority areas slated for discussion at the G7 summit. This year’s summit therefore offers a chance to rethink security and international peace.
The 2022 SGI Peace Proposal, authored by our international president Daisaku Ikeda, calls for “detoxifying” our security doctrines from nuclear dependence. Building on this vision, I propose several recommendations for controlling nuclear weapons.
**1. Adopt a No‑First‑Use policy**
To ease tensions and create space for resolving the Ukraine crisis, nuclear‑armed states must act urgently to lower nuclear risks. With arsenals on high alert, the chance of accidental use is alarmingly high. SGI renews its commitment to advocate for a universal No‑First‑Use (NFU) policy for all nuclear‑possessing and nuclear‑dependent states. An NFU stance would stabilize the global security climate and open a much‑needed arena for bilateral and multilateral dialogue toward ending the conflict. It would also give concrete effect to the G20 leaders’ recent declaration that the use or threat of nuclear weapons is inadmissible, and to the P‑5 statement of January 2022 that “a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.” Such a declaratory policy must be accompanied by tangible changes—e.g., removing nuclear forces from hair‑trigger alert—to build mutual trust. Overall, NFU would be a critical step toward reducing the role of nuclear weapons in national security and would spur further disarmament. We urge G7 leaders to seize this opportunity to discuss and announce risk‑reduction, de‑escalation, and disarmament strategies, beginning with an NFU declaration.
**2. Engage productively in multilateral disarmament discussions and take bold leadership**
G7 leaders must demonstrate bold leadership by renewing their commitment to the disarmament obligations of Article VI of the Nuclear Non‑Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Equally important is exploring the complementarity between the NPT and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). We hope Japan will act as a bridge‑builder, engaging constructively in TPNW discussions, recognizing that despite differing approaches, all nations share grave concerns about nuclear use. We strongly urge G7 countries to cooperate with TPNW State Parties and commit to attending future treaty meetings.
**3. Commit to work toward the elimination of nuclear weapons**
A world without nuclear weapons is often described as the “ultimate goal,” but that goal must be achieved before nuclear arms destroy our world. Some experts have suggested 2045 as an absolute deadline for total elimination. The Hiroshima Summit could be the venue where G7 leaders agree on such a timeline and launch negotiations accordingly.
**4. Support disarmament and non‑proliferation education initiatives**
We call on G7 leaders to champion educational initiatives at every level. Visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and meeting atomic‑bomb survivors would allow leaders to hear directly from those affected and learn from their experiences. Transforming the security paradigm requires changing how people think about peace and security and challenging the dominant narrative that nuclear weapons provide safety. Public awareness that the surest way to avoid nuclear war is to eliminate these weapons is essential. A 2009 SGI nuclear abolition proposal stresses that ending the era of nuclear terror demands confronting the mindsets that justify such weapons—readiness to annihilate perceived threats or obstacles to our goals. Therefore, we ask G7 leaders to ensure opportunities for all, especially young people, to learn about the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons.
We welcome Prime Minister Kishida’s initiative for the Hiroshima Action Plan and the establishment of a “Youth Leader Fund for a World Without Nuclear Weapons.” We hope Japan will lead in affirming that these initiatives aim not only to educate about disarmament but to educate for disarmament.
In closing, the current tensions and uncertainties in the global security climate heighten, rather than diminish, the value of dialogue and diplomacy. Forums such as the G7 and the United Nations are more vital than ever. Anna Ikeda is the United Nations representative of Soka Gakkai International (SGI) and program coordinator for disarmament at the SGI Office for UN Affairs, focusing on nuclear abolition and the cessation of lethal autonomous weapons. This is a slightly shortened transcript of her paper presented at the conference “Advancing Security and Sustainability at the G7 Hiroshima Summit” at Soka University, Tokyo, on March 29, 2023.
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