Eduardo Muñoz Alvarez/AP
On April 24, 2024, Ambassador Vasily Nebenzia vetoed Russia at the United Nations Security Council.
CNN
—
Russia on Wednesday vetoed a United Nations resolution proposing a ban on the use of nuclear weapons in outer space amid concerns backed by the U.S. intelligence community that Russia is seeking to develop a nuclear device capable of destroying satellites. was activated.
Russian Ambassador Vasily Neventsia described the UN draft as a “dirty spectacle” and a “cynical ploy” prepared by the resolution's backers, the United States and Japan.
President Joe Biden acknowledged in February that the United States has intelligence that Russia is developing anti-satellite nuclear attack capabilities. Three sources familiar with the intelligence later told CNN that the weapon could create a huge energy wave when detonated that could destroy the satellite.
Before the vote, U.S. officials argued that Russia could be hiding something if it vetoed the document.
U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield echoed these claims in a speech after Wednesday's vote.
“And today's veto raises the question: Why? If we're following the rules, why not support a resolution to reaffirm the rules?” she asked.
“What on earth are you hiding? It's incomprehensible. And that's a shame.”
The US ambassador also condemned China's abstention, saying China “demonstrates that it would rather protect Russia as a junior partner than protect the global non-proliferation regime.”
The Council voted against the resolution amendments submitted by Russia and China.
Thomas-Greenfield said Wednesday's vote “represents a real missed opportunity to rebuild much-needed confidence in existing arms control obligations.”
The resolution, drafted by the United States and Japan, received cross-regional support from more than 60 member states.
It aimed to strengthen and sustain the global non-proliferation regime, including in outer space, and to reaffirm the common goal of preserving outer space for peaceful purposes.
It also called on UN member states not to develop nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction intended to be placed in Earth orbit.
The potential threat of nuclear weapons in space has been amplified by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which triggered the most serious ground conflict in Europe since World War II and strained relations between the world's two largest nuclear powers, the United States and Russia. It brought me to a new worst situation.
White House comments about the possibility of Russian space nuclear weapons deepened these concerns.
Experts say this type of weapon could destroy large constellations of small satellites, such as SpaceX's Starlink, which Ukraine has used successfully against Russian forces. It has said.
This would almost certainly be Russia's “last weapon”, U.S. officials and others said. Because it would do the same damage to Russian satellites in the area.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in March that Russia was ready to use nuclear weapons if there was a threat to the existence of the Russian state, but that “there has never been such a need.”
He also told officials that space projects, including the installation of nuclear power plants in space, should be a priority and receive adequate funding.
Last year, President Putin deployed tactical nuclear weapons to neighboring ally Belarus, and former Russian President and Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev warned that strategic nuclear weapons could be used to protect territory annexed to Russia from Ukraine. He said that there is a possibility that