UNITED NATIONS. The United States and Japan are taking a significant step forward at the United Nations by co-sponsoring a resolution aimed at urging all nations to refrain from deploying or developing nuclear weapons in space, announced U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield on Monday.
Addressing a U.N. Security Council meeting, Thomas-Greenfield emphasized the gravity of the issue, stating, “Any placement of nuclear weapons into orbit around the Earth would be unprecedented, dangerous, and unacceptable.”
The move to propose the resolution comes in the wake of recent White House confirmation that Russia has acquired a concerning anti-satellite weapon capability, although it has not been operationalized yet.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, however, assured later that Moscow has no intentions of stationing nuclear weapons in space, asserting that the country’s space capabilities are in line with those of the U.S.
The Outer Space Treaty, which has been ratified by approximately 114 countries including the United States and Russia, explicitly prohibits the deployment of nuclear weapons or any other weapons of mass destruction in orbit, as well as the stationing of weapons in outer space through any means.
Thomas-Greenfield stressed the importance of all treaty parties committing to the ban on nuclear and other destructive weapons, urging non-party member states to join without delay.
She expressed the United States’ readiness to collaborate with other Security Council members to build consensus around the resolution.
However, Russia’s Deputy U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyansky dismissed the proposal, labeling it as “yet another propaganda stunt” by the U.S. He criticized the resolution as “very politicized” and “divorced from reality,” arguing that it lacked input from experts and was not discussed at relevant international forums.
Outside the Security Council, Thomas-Greenfield emphasized the U.S.’s commitment to enhancing compliance with the ban on nuclear weapons in space. She expressed willingness to engage with treaty parties to explore measures ensuring the detection of nuclear weapons deployed in orbit.
Additionally, Thomas-Greenfield reiterated the U.S.’s willingness to engage in bilateral arms control discussions with Russia and China without preconditions.
However, Polyansky accused the West of attempting to strategically undermine Russia and insisted that any interaction would only be possible if the U.S. and NATO reassessed their stance towards Russia.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres underscored the escalating risk of nuclear warfare, emphasizing the urgent need for global cooperation. He referenced the movie “Oppenheimer,” which depicted the devastating consequences of nuclear weapons, warning against the prospect of a nuclear doomsday.
“Humanity cannot survive a sequel to Oppenheimer,” Guterres cautioned.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
