Russia vetoes UN resolution to stop nuclear arms race in space

The White House had accused Moscow of planning to send into orbit a nuclear-armed weapon capable of crippling Western satellites.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the American ambassador to the UN, said the Russians appeared to have something to hide. Picture: AFP

Russia has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that called on all countries to prevent a nuclear arms race in outer space.

The White House had accused Moscow of planning to send into orbit a nuclear-armed weapon capable of crippling Western satellites.

The 15-member council voted 13 in favour, with Russia opposed and China abstaining.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the American ambassador to the UN, said the Russians appeared to have something to hide in comments after the resolution was blocked. “Today’s veto begs the question: Why? Why, if you are following the rules, would you not support a resolution that reaffirms them? What could you possibly be hiding? It’s baffling and it’s a shame,” she said.

The resolution, drafted by the US and Japan, had called on nations to comply with the Cold War-era Outer Space Treaty, which bans the development or deployment of nuclear arms or other weapons of mass destruction in space.

If passed, it would have required nations to “contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space and of the prevention of an arms race in outer space”.

In February the White House went public with claims that Russia was developing a weapon that could destroy GPS, satellite communications, surveillance and military command operations by the US and its allies.

John Kirby, the US national security spokesman, said at the time that his country had no ability to defend its satellites from such a weapon. Members of congress who were briefed on US intelligence reports described the weapon as a “serious national security threat”.

Russia in turn accused the Biden administration of a “malicious fabrication” designed to secure more funding for the war in Ukraine.

Ms Thomas-Greenfield said the vote had done nothing to change Russia’s obligation to stick to the terms of the Outer Space Treaty of 1967.

Vasily Nebenzya, the Russian ambassador to the UN, described the vote as a “dirty spectacle” designed to portray Russia as not adhering to the terms of the treaty.

China and Russia have been working on a separate treaty that would ban the use or deployment of weapons of mass destruction in space.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly threatened to use nuclear weapons in recent years if Russia was threatened.

The Times