Russia vetoes a UN resolution to end the space weapons race
Russia has blocked a UN Security Council resolution that urged other nations to refrain from engaging in a weapons race in space.
The US and Japan proposed the draft resolution, which aimed to restate an already-established concept from the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.
Russia is allegedly working on building a nuclear weapon that can destroy satellites in space, the US has warned.
Russia declared itself "firmly committed" to the current agreement.
The proposal, which was submitted on Wednesday, urged "all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute aggressively to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space together with the prevention of an arms race in outer space."
Additionally, it urged nations to respect the terms of the Outer Space Treaty, which committed them to "not placing any objects carrying nuclear weapons with any other kinds of weapons of destructive technology in orbit around the Earth."
China abstained while Russia, one of the five permanent members with a veto, voted against the resolution, leaving 13 of the council's fifteen members in favor.
The US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, referred to the action as "baffling".
"Russia has vetoed a straightforward resolution that recognizes a legally binding obligation," she said. "President Putin has said in the open that Russia does not want to launch nuclear weapons into space.
Thus, the veto of today raises the question, why? Why would you oppose a resolution that restates the rules if you are abiding by them? What may you be concealing?"
Although the weapon was not yet operational, White House spokesman John Kirby said in February that Russia had been developing a "troubling" new anti-satellite missile.
According to CBS News, the BBC's US partner, the weapon was space-based and equipped with a nuclear bomb to target satellites.
In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Moscow to be "categorically against" the deployment of nuclear weapons in space.
The US relies more than any other country on satellite communications for a wide range of purposes, including financial transactions, GPS systems, military activities, and spying.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan restated the US assessment on Wednesday, saying that the US believed "Russia is developing a new satellite carrying a nuclear device."
The claim's supporting intelligence details are not available to the public.
"Russia is firmly committed to its international regulatory requirements, including 1967 The Outer Space Treaty," said Sergei Lavrov, the foreign minister of Russia.
Vassily Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador to the UN, called the US-Japanese resolution a "cynical ploy" with "hidden motives".
Five permanent members—the United States, United Kingdom, France, China, and Russia—as well as ten seats that alternate among the other UN members comprise the UN Security Council. Each permanent member has a veto.
