Russia has recently circulated a United Nations resolution that calls on all countries to take urgent action to prevent the placement of weapons in outer space. This resolution goes beyond a previous U.S.-Japan proposal by not only aiming to prevent weapons from being deployed in space but also seeking to prevent the threat or use of force in outer space “for all time.” The Russian draft resolution emphasizes the importance of banning all types of weapons in space, including deploying weapons from space against Earth and vice versa.
The vetoed U.S.-Japan resolution focused on preventing the development and deployment of nuclear arms and other weapons of mass destruction in space, as prohibited under a 1967 international treaty ratified by both the U.S. and Russia. Before the U.S.-Japan resolution was put to a vote, Russia and China proposed an amendment calling for the prevention of weapons in outer space for all time. However, this amendment was defeated due to insufficient votes in the Security Council. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield expressed confusion over Russia’s veto, questioning why a resolution reaffirming existing rules would not be supported.
The U.S. has expressed concern over Russia’s reported acquisition of an anti-satellite weapon capability, although it is not yet operational. Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied intentions of deploying nuclear weapons in space, citing compliance with international rules. Russia’s Ambassador to the U.N., Vassily Nebenzia, accused the U.S. of cherry-picking weapons of mass destruction and criticized its allies for announcing plans to place weapons in outer space. Nebenzia also alleged that the U.S. has been blocking a Russian-Chinese proposal for a treaty against placing weapons in outer space since 2008.
The Russian draft resolution shares similarities with the U.S.-Japan proposal in calling for the prevention of an arms race in space and the promotion of peaceful uses of outer space. Despite these commonalities, tensions persist between the U.S. and Russia over differing interpretations of arms control obligations, risk reduction measures, and nuclear rhetoric. The U.S. has accused Russia of undermining global treaties, refusing substantive discussions on arms control, and engaging in dangerous nuclear rhetoric. The world is beginning to grasp the potential catastrophic consequences of a nuclear explosion in space, further highlighting the need for international cooperation in space security.
