Noting this impasse, UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, has asked for reports from all UN member countries detailing their efforts toward nuclear abolition. These reports are due by the end of the year. A growing, world-wide, consensus for abolition has failed to move the nuclear weapons states any closer to a nuclear weapons free world. With every blocking tactic used by these states, the rift between people and governments grows deeper. Immediately make an unconditional pledge not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons.
China remains the only state with a public policy in place of no first use.
NATO, led by the US, continues to hold to a policy of nuclear first use. The question of whether India and Pakistan will put nuclear warheads on missile delivery systems looms large. Israel and India are both reportedly considering deployment of nuclear submarines. The new government in the UK has made much of its reduction in warheads but there are question marks over this. In September, Britain rolled out is fourth Trident submarine, the HMS Vengeance.