Russia vetoes UN vote on stopping arms race in outer space

A UN Security Council resolution – which called on all countries to prevent an arms race in outer space, has been vetoed by Russia. 

The draft resolution was put forward by the US and Japan and was aimed at reaffirming a principle already set out in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. 

The US believes Russia is developing a space-based, anti-satellite nuclear weapon. 

Russia said it was “firmly committed” to the existing treaty.

The draft calls on “all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space and of the prevention of an arms race in outer space.”

And called on countries to uphold the Outer Space Treaty, which means all parties agreed “not to place in orbit around the Earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction”.

Of the council’s 15 members, 13 voted in favour, while Russia – one of five permanent members with a veto – voted against and China abstained.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the UN, called the move “baffling”.

“Russia has vetoed a straightforward resolution that affirms a legally binding obligation,” she said. “President Putin himself has said publicly that Russia has no intention of deploying nuclear weapons in space.

“So 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?”