April 24, 2024
Thank you, Madam President. Apologies.
The United States and Japan are proud to introduce a resolution that would strengthen and uphold the nuclear-nonproliferation and disarmament regime, including in outer space.
We have only begun to understand the catastrophic ramifications of a nuclear explosion in space.
How it could destroy thousands of satellites operated by countries and companies around the world – and wipe out the vital communications, scientific, meteorological, agricultural, commercial, and national security services we all depend on.
With such grave consequences for the long-term sustainability of outer space and Sustainable Development Goals, there should be no doubt: placing a nuclear weapon into orbit would be unprecedented, unacceptable, and deeply dangerous.
And every one of us has a shared interest and responsibility in ensuring that States do not go down this dark path.
Therefore, the resolution before us today should not be controversial.
Among other things, it emphasizes the shared goal of preventing an arms race in outer space, and urges exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes.
It calls on UN Member States to not develop any nuclear weapons, or other weapons of mass destruction, that are specifically designed to be placed in orbit around earth.
And it affirms the obligations of all States Parties not to place any objects carrying nuclear weapons, or other WMDs, in orbit around Earth, in full compliance with the Outer Space Treaty – a treaty that 115 countries have joined, including Japan and the United States, every other permanent member of this Council, and the vast majority of its elected members.
Ultimately, the matter of nuclear weapons in space affects us all.
This draft resolution reflects that reality, as does the negotiating process that brought it to the table today.
The United States and Japan have gone to great lengths to forge consensus: ensuring that Council members’ views are respected and incorporated, as much as possible.
And we would like to thank the [63] cross-regional cosponsors who have joined us in support.
Colleagues, we know that the existing nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation framework is under increasing strain.
As an international community, we have the urgent responsibility to take stock of current and emerging threats, and more importantly, commit to addressing them.
This resolution allows us to do just that: to help ensure that countries will not deploy nuclear weapons around our earth, which would pose a grave threat to international peace and security.
We must adopt this [resolution] in unity. Thank you.
Explanation by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Representative to the United Nations, of Vote on the U.S. and Japan-Drafted UN Security Council Resolution: Preventing Nuclear Weapons in Outer Space
AS DELIVERED
Thank you, Madam President.
I just returned from a trip to Japan, where I had the honor of visiting Nagasaki, the last place to ever experience the atomic bomb. It was a reminder of our profound responsibility to prevent the scourge of war, and ensure that no place experiences the horror of nuclear weaponry, ever again.
Unfortunately, today, Russia abandoned that responsibility.
Of course, this is not the first time Russia has undermined the global nonproliferation regime. Over the past few years, Russia has irresponsibly invoked dangerous nuclear rhetoric and walked away from several of its arms control obligations. It has remained unwilling to engage in substantive discussions around arms control or risk reduction. And it has defended and even enabled dangerous proliferators.
Now, Russia has vetoed a straightforward resolution that affirms a legally binding obligation under the Outer Space Treaty: that we should not be putting WMD into orbit.
And with its abstention from this vote – despite our multiple attempts to forge consensus – China has shown that it would rather defend Russia as its junior partner, than safeguard the global nonproliferation regime.
Colleagues, President Putin himself has said publicly that Russia has no intention of deploying nuclear weapons in space.
And 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? It’s baffling. And it’s a shame.
This is not the outcome the United States wanted, and given the vote count, it is not the outcome the rest of this Council wanted, either.
But let me be clear. In no way does this vote undermine the obligations Russia, or any other State party, continues to have under the Outer Space Treaty. And in no way does it mark the end of our shared effort to promote safe, secure, stable, and sustainable exploration and use of outer space.
For our part, the United States will continue to model transparency, accountability, and cooperation. We will continue to comply with existing arms control obligations and engage constructively in new ones. And we will continue to show up to this table, and to the negotiating table, in good faith, and pursue bilateral arms control discussions with Russia right now, without preconditions.
Today’s vote marks a real missed opportunity to rebuild much-needed trust in existing arms control obligations. We may be disappointed, but we remain undeterred.
Thank you, Madam President.