UN Chief Calls Nuclear Weapons Eradication on Hiroshima 80th Anniversary

The 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki has reignited global calls for nuclear disarmament amid growing geopolitical tensions and renewed concerns over nuclear weapons. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the urgent need to eradicate nuclear weapons, highlighting the erosion of trust and widening geopolitical divisions that treat these weapons as tools of coercion. In Japan, commemoration ceremonies featured reflections on ongoing conflicts and the threat posed by nuclear-armed neighbors, with some activists questioning Japan's current commitment to disarmament as it relies on the U.S. nuclear umbrella. U.S. Catholic bishops visiting Japan condemned all wars and nuclear weapons use, advocating for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and greater support for victims. In the U.S., public opinion remains divided, with roughly equal proportions supporting, opposing, or uncertain about the justification of the bombings, reflecting a long-term decline in approval. Grassroots peace groups in the U.S. continue to push for legislation to eliminate nuclear arsenals, underscoring ongoing fears about the devastating power of modern nuclear weapons far exceeding those used in 1945.