- The United States has accused Russia of launching satellites for the purpose of weaponizing space, and the United Nations Security Council is also concerned about this.
- Different resolutions were proposed, with the United States and Japan focusing on weapons of mass destruction, and Russia focusing on all types of weapons.
- The United States claimed that Russia’s actions were aimed at distracting from Russia’s intentions to weaponize space.
The United States said Monday that Russia launched a satellite last week that could be part of a space weaponization effort, condemning it as a possible future global trend despite member states of the United Nations Security Council failing to pass measures against it.
The Security Council resolution drafted by Russia was comparable to one backed by the United States and Japan that was rejected last month. Rival drafts focused on different types of weapons, with the United States and Japan specifying weapons of mass destruction. The Russian draft discussed all kinds of weapons.
The United States and its allies said the language discussed by the 15-nation Security Council on Monday was merely an attempt to distract the world from Russia’s true intentions to weaponize space.
US, Japan call for ban on nuclear weapons in space
“The culmination of Russia’s diplomatic gaslighting and smear campaign is the document before us today,” U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood told the council.
On April 24, 2024, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzia addresses members of the United Nations Security Council during a conference on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons at United Nations Headquarters. The United States announced Monday that Russia last week launched a satellite that could be part of a space weaponization effort. This has been denounced as a possible future global trend by members of the UN Security Council, although they have failed to pass any measures against it. (AP Photo/Eduardo Muñoz Alvarez, File)
Russia’s Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzia denied that Russia was trying to mislead the world. Supported by China and others, he said the vote was “a unique moment of truth for our Western colleagues.”
“If they fail to support this, they will clearly demonstrate that preserving their freedom to pursue the militarization of outer space remains their top priority.” said Nebenzia.
Countries have said they want to ban weapons from space, a sentiment echoed by council members on Monday. However, when it came time to vote, the council was evenly divided 7-7 between supporters of the United States and Russia, with Switzerland abstaining. The bill failed under UN rules because it did not receive nine votes.
Russia defends veto of UN resolution banning use of nuclear weapons in outer space
“Space powers seem more interested in scoring points with their adversaries than in engaging in constructive dialogue,” said Paul Meyer, Canada’s former disarmament ambassador and researcher at the Vancouver-based Space Institute. “I see a passive, argumentative attitude,” he said. .
Since before humans left Earth, the world’s most powerful nations have worried that their enemies will use outer space to attack.
The Soviet Union and the United States sent humans into space in 1961. Six years later, the Soviet Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom signed a treaty declaring outer space a global commons that could be used only for peaceful purposes.
Although countries cannot wage war without space-based communications, reconnaissance, and weather tools provided by satellites and spacecraft, the 1967 Outer Space Treaty requires that weapons remain on Earth.
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“You can see how important that was as a conflict prevention measure,” Meyer said.
As more countries expand into space, it becomes even more important, he said. About a dozen companies have the ability to launch spacecraft, and about 80 have their own satellites, not to mention private companies with assets in orbit.
All of this could be at risk if a conflict in space could result in explosions and debris that could cripple critical systems that millions of people around the world rely on. there is.
“A lot of people are interested in whether it’s safe to operate in space,” Meyer said.
Four people briefed on the information said in February that the United States was collecting highly sensitive information about Russian anti-satellite weapons and that it was being shared with senior government officials. . The people, who were not authorized to comment publicly, said the feature is not yet operational.
