OPCW chief Sabrina Dallafior toured London, speaking on chemical weapons, engaging scientists and debating security issues with British leaders.
From 19 to 20 October 2026, the head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons made a high-profile trip to the United Kingdom. The agenda combined a flagship address at the Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation (CWD) Conference, a guest lecture at the Royal Society of Chemistry, and a series of closed-door discussions with senior British officials.
The three-day visit was designed to reaffirm the OPCW’s partnership with the UK, present the latest strategic assessments, and explore collaborative pathways for addressing emerging threats linked to chemical weapons, artificial intelligence and non-state actors.
Keynote at the Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation Conference
In her opening speech, Director-General Dallafior painted a picture of a security landscape that is increasingly contested. She warned that the resurgence of chemical weapons use by both state and non-state actors, combined with the diffusion of dual-use technologies, is stretching the limits of the existing verification regime of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
To keep the treaty relevant, she outlined a series of organisational adaptations, including enhanced data-sharing protocols, rapid-response investigative teams and a broader mandate for the OPCW’s technical assistance missions.
The speaker then shifted focus to the Middle East, highlighting recent breakthroughs in Syria. After a lengthy investigative campaign, previously undisclosed stockpiles and production facilities have been identified, declared and placed under OPCW supervision. She noted that, for the first time since the governmental transition in Damascus, verified destruction activities have resumed, signalling a tentative but tangible step toward full compliance. Dallafior stressed that the OPCW’s on-the-ground teams continue to hunt for remnants of the former Assad-era programme, securing them before they can be repurposed.
Lecture at the Royal Society of Chemistry
The Royal Society of Chemistry provided a scientific platform for the OPCW chief to stress the indispensable role of chemists in safeguarding the convention. She called on the global community of researchers to act as the first line of defence, detecting illicit synthesis routes and contributing expertise to forensic investigations. The OPCW Scientific Advisory Board was presented as the bridge between cutting-edge research and policy, allowing the organisation to stay abreast of advances in artificial intelligence, emerging biological toxins and next-generation chemical forensics. By integrating these capabilities, the OPCW can identify suspicious patterns far earlier than traditional inspection methods.
In addition to technological upgrades, Dallafior stressed the importance of a responsible research culture. She defined responsible research as the deliberate choice to channel chemical knowledge toward peaceful applications, while establishing clear safeguards against misuse. The lecture concluded with an invitation to academic institutions to embed convention-compliant curricula, ensuring that the next generation of scientists internalises the principle that chemistry should serve humanity, not destruction.
Bilateral meetings with UK government officials
Throughout the visit, the OPCW chief sat down with senior ministers, including FCDO Minister Lord Wood, Armed Forces Minister Louise Sandher-Jones MP, and Minister of State Michael Shanks MP. The dialogue covered a spectrum of topics: the ongoing verification work in Syria, the latest findings from the OPCW’s Technical Assistance Visits to Ukraine—which confirmed the presence of the riot-control agent CS along active frontlines—and the potential of AI-enhanced verification tools to accelerate compliance checks. Both sides expressed concern over the security implications of emerging chemical threats and agreed to deepen cooperation on capacity-building programmes for at-risk states.
Director-General Dallafior praised the United Kingdom’s long-standing support for the OPCW, citing its contributions to the Associate Programme that helps member states strengthen national implementation of the convention. She highlighted UK-funded training modules, laboratory upgrades and the sharing of best-practice guidelines as concrete outcomes of this partnership. The meeting concluded with a joint commitment to expand joint research projects, refine the OPCW’s technical assistance toolkit, and sustain political backing for a robust, future-proof chemical-weapons disarmament architecture.
