Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
UN Security Council Rejects Russia-Backed Resolution on Banning Weapons in Space
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 7 months ago on
May 21, 2024

The UN Security Council fails to pass a resolution against weaponizing space, with the US accusing Russia of intending to militarize outer space. (AP File)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

UNITED NATIONS — The United States said Monday that Russia last week launched a satellite that could be part of weaponizing space, a possible future global trend that members of the United Nations Security Council condemned even as they failed to pass a measure against it.

The Security Council Resolution

The Security Council resolution drafted by Russia rivaled one backed by the U.S. and Japan that failed last month. The rival drafts focused on different types of weapons, with the U.S. and Japan specifying weapons of mass destruction. The Russian draft discussed all types of weapons.

The U.S. and its allies said the language that the 15-member council debated on Monday was simply meant to distract the world from Russia’s true intention: weaponizing space.

“The culmination of Russia’s campaign of diplomatic gaslighting and dissembling is the text before us today,” U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood told the council.

Russia’s U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, denied that his nation was trying to mislead the world. Backed by China and others, he called the vote “a unique moment of truth for our Western colleagues.”

“If they fail to support this, then they will clearly show that their main priority remains keeping freedom of the way for themselves to expedite the militarization of outer space,” Nebenzia said.

The Vote and Its Implications

Every nation says it wants weapons barred from space, and council members repeated that Monday. But when it came time to vote, the council evenly split 7-7 between backers of the U.S. and of Russia, with Switzerland abstaining. The measure failed under U.N. rules because it didn’t receive nine votes.

“We have this negative, squabbling attitude among leading space powers that seem more interested in scoring points off their adversaries rather than engaging in constructive dialogue,” said Paul Meyer, Canada’s former ambassador for disarmament and a fellow at the Vancouver-based Outer Space Institute.

Since before humans left the Earth, the world’s most powerful nations have worried about their enemies using outer space to attack them.

The Soviet Union and the United States sent men into space in 1961. Six years later, the Soviets, the U.S. and the United Kingdom signed a treaty declaring outer space a global commons that could be used for only peaceful purposes.

Even though nations could not wage war without the space-based communications, reconnaissance and weather tools that satellites and spacecraft provide, the 1967 Outer Space Treaty requires them to keep their weapons on Earth.

“You realize what an important conflict-prevention measure that was,” Meyer said.

It’s become even more important, he said, as a growing number of nations have moved into space. About a dozen have the capacity to launch spacecraft, and about 80 have their own satellites, not to mention the private companies with assets in orbit.

All of that could be at risk if a conflict in space causes an explosion and shrapnel, which could disable the vital systems that millions of people around the world depend on.

“A lot of people have a stake in being able to operate in space safely and securely,” Meyer said.

The U.S. has gathered highly sensitive intelligence about Russian anti-satellite weapons that has been shared with the upper echelons of government, four people who had been briefed on the intelligence said in February. The people, who were not authorized to comment publicly, said the capability was not yet operational.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Opinion: Does Jesus Want Christians to Be Environmentalists?

DON'T MISS

Illegal Immigrant Faces Murder Charges in Death of Woman Lit on Fire in NYC Subway

DON'T MISS

$1M Investment in Fresno Lender to Help Small Businesses Get Funding

DON'T MISS

Who Is Making a Difference in Fresno? Explore This List of 2024’s Shining Stars

DON'T MISS

Fresno State Tossed by Northern Illinois in Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

DON'T MISS

2 Rescued After Santa Cruz Wharf Partially Collapses Due to Heavy Surf From Major Pacific Storm

DON'T MISS

Spain Faces Threats of Terrorism and Unrest, US Warns in Travel Advisory

DON'T MISS

Bill Clinton Is Hospitalized With a Fever but in Good Spirits, Spokesperson Says

DON'T MISS

Media Relations Expert Leaves City Hall for Valley Children’s Hospital

DON'T MISS

Amar Augillard Departs the Fresno State Basketball Team

UP NEXT

Illegal Immigrant Faces Murder Charges in Death of Woman Lit on Fire in NYC Subway

UP NEXT

$1M Investment in Fresno Lender to Help Small Businesses Get Funding

UP NEXT

Who Is Making a Difference in Fresno? Explore This List of 2024’s Shining Stars

UP NEXT

Fresno State Tossed by Northern Illinois in Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

UP NEXT

2 Rescued After Santa Cruz Wharf Partially Collapses Due to Heavy Surf From Major Pacific Storm

UP NEXT

Spain Faces Threats of Terrorism and Unrest, US Warns in Travel Advisory

UP NEXT

Bill Clinton Is Hospitalized With a Fever but in Good Spirits, Spokesperson Says

UP NEXT

Media Relations Expert Leaves City Hall for Valley Children’s Hospital

UP NEXT

Amar Augillard Departs the Fresno State Basketball Team

UP NEXT

Former Bulldog QB Mikey Keene Commits to Michigan

Who Is Making a Difference in Fresno? Explore This List of 2024’s Shining Stars

13 hours ago

Fresno State Tossed by Northern Illinois in Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

13 hours ago

2 Rescued After Santa Cruz Wharf Partially Collapses Due to Heavy Surf From Major Pacific Storm

14 hours ago

Spain Faces Threats of Terrorism and Unrest, US Warns in Travel Advisory

14 hours ago

Bill Clinton Is Hospitalized With a Fever but in Good Spirits, Spokesperson Says

14 hours ago

Media Relations Expert Leaves City Hall for Valley Children’s Hospital

15 hours ago

Amar Augillard Departs the Fresno State Basketball Team

15 hours ago

Former Bulldog QB Mikey Keene Commits to Michigan

16 hours ago

Thunderstorms on Christmas Eve? They’re in the Fresno Forecast

16 hours ago

SE Fresno Voters Have Their Pick of Familiar Candidates to Succeed Chavez

17 hours ago

Opinion: Does Jesus Want Christians to Be Environmentalists?

As Christmas approaches, I know that my Christian friends will ask me why I chose to work for the environmental nonprofit Earthday.org inste...

46 minutes ago

46 minutes ago

Opinion: Does Jesus Want Christians to Be Environmentalists?

12 hours ago

Illegal Immigrant Faces Murder Charges in Death of Woman Lit on Fire in NYC Subway

12 hours ago

$1M Investment in Fresno Lender to Help Small Businesses Get Funding

13 hours ago

Who Is Making a Difference in Fresno? Explore This List of 2024’s Shining Stars

13 hours ago

Fresno State Tossed by Northern Illinois in Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

A closed wharf is seen in Santa Cruz, Calif., Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, after the pier partially collapsed and fell into the ocean. (AP/Martha Mendoza)
14 hours ago

2 Rescued After Santa Cruz Wharf Partially Collapses Due to Heavy Surf From Major Pacific Storm

14 hours ago

Spain Faces Threats of Terrorism and Unrest, US Warns in Travel Advisory

14 hours ago

Bill Clinton Is Hospitalized With a Fever but in Good Spirits, Spokesperson Says

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend