The OSCE Secretariat bears no responsibility for the content of this document FSC.DEL/352/26 and circulates it without altering its content. The distribution by OSCE 1 October 2026 Conference Services of this document is without prejudice to OSCE decisions, as set out in documents agreed by OSCE participating States. ENGLISH only
United States Mission to the OSCE U.S. Statement for the Forum for Security Co-operation: General Statement As delivered by Chief Arms Control Delegate David Haugen September 30, 2026
Thank you, Mister Chair.
The United States welcomes the opportunity to address this Forum at a moment when the security environment across the OSCE region remains under significant strain. We thank the UK for its continued leadership in guiding our collective work this trimester, on the success of “SALW week,” and on encouraging substantive, respectful dialogue among all this forum’s members.
Mister Chair,
History has repeatedly shown that in times of crisis – not in periods of calm – that maintaining such an open dialogue matters most. Miscalculation, not intent alone, has driven many of the gravest security incidents of the past century. Channels for communication, even limited or imperfect ones, reduce the risk that tension escalates into confrontation through misunderstanding.
It is this need for reliable communication that makes the OSCE and this forum so vital. There are few other bodies in the world where nations with serious disagreements and, indeed, in open conflict, nevertheless belong to the same organization, sit in the same hall every week, and maintain links to the same communications network. OSCE was founded on the belief that those links matter, and that a standing forum is a prerequisite for durable peace and security on this continent.
It is therefore incumbent upon all of us to make full use of the tools available to us through OSCE, including mechanisms for military-to-military contact, incident prevention, or crisis communication. We must maintain that true open dialogue among nations and not quietly let this unique forum degenerate into a platform for grievances aimed at our respective domestic audiences. Moreover, we must continually find ways to improve this organization and its tools. The security environment in Europe is rapidly changing, and so we must also rapidly evolve by innovating and developing new tools to address the current and future challenges facing us.
Mister Chair,
Thank you again for your leadership. The United States looks forward to working with you and all participating States in addressing these challenges.