Russia Vetoes UN Resolution on Space Arms Race, Sparking Concerns
Russia has blocked a UN Security Council resolution that called for preventing an arms race in outer space. The resolution, sponsored by the US and Japan, was supported by 13 of the 15 council members, but Russia vetoed it and China abstained.
The resolution aimed to reaffirm the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which prohibits the deployment of weapons of mass destruction in space. It also called on all countries to cooperate in preventing an arms race in space and to establish appropriate verification measures.
Russia argued that the resolution was unbalanced and did not adequately address other types of weapons in space, such as conventional weapons and cyber weapons. It also claimed that the resolution was an attempt to single out Russia for criticism.
The US and Japan accused Russia of undermining global treaties and engaging in dangerous nuclear rhetoric. US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that Russia’s veto raised questions about its intentions in space and whether it was planning to deploy nuclear weapons there.
The veto highlights ongoing tensions between the US and Russia over arms control and space exploration. The US has repeatedly accused Russia of violating the Outer Space Treaty and of developing new space weapons, including anti-satellite weapons.
The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has warned that the risk of nuclear warfare has escalated to its highest point in decades. He has called for a global effort to prevent an arms race in space and to ensure the peaceful use of outer space.
The veto of the UN resolution is a setback for efforts to prevent an arms race in space. It underscores the challenges of achieving international cooperation on arms control and highlights the need for further dialogue and negotiations between the US and Russia.
