Skip to main content

Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.

The United States, together with Japan, has proposed a resolution to the UN Security Council urging nations to refrain from deploying or developing nuclear weapons in space.

This proposal was made public by US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who said, “Any placement of nuclear weapons into orbit around the Earth would be unprecedented, dangerous, and unacceptable.”

2f0a0066 Crop 1140x684

The backdrop to this resolution includes recent acknowledgments from the White House about Russia’s plans to deploy anti-satellite weaponry capabilities, which, although not yet operational, have raised international alarm. According to US officials speaking anonymously to media outlets, this capability would use a nuclear warhead.

Despite these concerns, Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed that Russia does not plan to position nuclear weapons in space. He has labeled the accusations as Western “propaganda” and said it would violate the Outer Space Treaty, which both the United States and Russia have signed onto. Deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyansky has called the proposed resolution “yet another propaganda stunt by Washington,” “very politicized” and “divorced from reality.”

166d48b8 703a 4dcd Ade5 914a6c8b935a

Japan’s Foreign Minister, Yoko Kamikawa, emphasized the importance of maintaining outer space as a domain of peace. He added, “even during the confrontational environment of the Cold War, the rivals agreed to ensure that outer space remained peaceful.”

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Keep up to date with our latest videos, news and content