The UN Security Council voted against a Russian-drafted resolution aimed at combating military activities in outer space, casting doubt on Moscow’s motives following its use of a veto in April against an American proposal to ban nuclear proliferation in space.
The Russian resolution called for urgent global action to “absolutely prohibit the placement of weapons and the threat of force in outer space.”
Despite this plea, the voting saw seven countries, including China, supporting the resolution, while another seven, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, opposed it. Switzerland abstained from voting.
U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Robert Wood, criticized the move as “the culmination of a Russian campaign of diplomatic manipulation.”
Wood added, “Russia does not want the Security Council to focus on its dangerous actions in space,” referencing U.S. allegations that Moscow is attempting to place a nuclear weapon into Earth’s orbit.
Meanwhile, Russia’s UN Ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, said those supporting Russia were “generally pleased with the voting outcome.”
He remarked, “The vote demonstrated a clear divide between those striving for the peaceful use of outer space and those moving towards its militarization.”
He also noted, “Today it has become apparent that Western countries are isolated in the Security Council.”
The vote follows a U.S.-Japanese resolution proposed in late April, which garnered 13 votes but was vetoed by Russia, with China abstaining.
Security Council resolutions require at least nine affirmative votes and no veto from any of the five permanent members to pass.
The American resolution urged “all nations, especially those with significant space capabilities, to actively contribute to the peaceful use of outer space and prevent an arms race in that domain.”
It affirmed “the commitment of all state parties to fully comply with the Outer Space Treaty, including the prohibition of placing nuclear weapons or any other types of weapons of mass destruction in orbit around Earth.”
Nebenzia criticized the Western proposal after the April vote as a “twisted plan from our Western colleagues that bears no relation to this noble goal.”
