Five permanent United Nations Security Council<\/a><\/strong> members (China, France, Russia, the UK and US) have pledged to prevent atomic weapons from spreading and to avoid nuclear conflict.<\/span><\/p>\n This pledge was made ahead of a review of the <\/span>Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT),<\/a><\/strong>1970<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n Firstly,<\/b> the spread of atomic weapons must be prevented. This is because a <\/span>nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.<\/span><\/p>\n Secondly,<\/b> they emphasized that the <\/span>avoidance of war between the Nuclear-Weapon States and the reduction of strategic risks as their foremost responsibilities<\/span><\/p>\n Thirdly<\/b>, they said that Nuclear weapons \u2014 for as long as they continue to exist \u2014 should serve defensive purposes, deter aggression and prevent war.<\/span><\/p>\n Fourthly,<\/b> they have <\/span>pledged to abide by a key article in the <\/span>Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) <\/span>under which countries have committed to full future disarmament from nuclear weapons.<\/span><\/p>\n Note<\/b>: Nuclear weapons have only been used in the conflict in the US bombings of Japan at the end of World War II.<\/span><\/p>\n Lastly,<\/b> they have also expressed their intention to maintain and further strengthen their national measures to prevent unauthorised or unintended use of nuclear weapons.<\/span><\/p>\nWhat is the pledge made by the Five permanent UNSC members?<\/b><\/h5>\n