Joint Statement
on Space Security issues
in the First Committee
of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly

(New York, October 30, 2024)

 

We, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Cuba, the Republic of Nicaragua, the Republic of Zimbabwe, the Russian Federation, the Syrian Arab Republic, 

Recognizing the common interest of all humankind in the preserving outer space for peaceful purposes,

Acknowledging the significance of outer space activities as an important factor of social, economic, scientific and technological development of States, as well as their increasing role in maintaining national and global security,

Recognizing that international security is currently facing serious challenges in the sphere of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation,

Expressing serious concern over the plans declared by certain States that include placement of weapons, in particular strike combat systems, in outer space, the threat or use of force in outer space, from space against Earth and from Earth against objects in outer space and the use of outer space for combat operations,

Being seriously concerned about the possibility of an arms race in outer space and of outer space turning into an arena of military confrontation

Recognizing the catastrophic consequences of an arms race in outer space, which shall be used exclusively for peaceful and creative purposes, or of any military conflicts in outer space and that the prevention of an arms race in outer space would avert a grave danger for international peace and security,

Reaffirming the commitment to and the importance of strict compliance with the norms and principles of international law governing activities in outer space and providing for its exclusively peaceful use, first and foremost of the provisions of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,

Recognizing that, while the existing international treaties related to outer space and the legal regime provided for therein play a positive role in regulating outer space activities, they are unable to fully prevent the placement of weapons in outer space and the threat or use of force in outer space, from space against Earth and from Earth against objects in outer space, and to preserve outer space for peaceful purposes,

Emphasizing the need to enhance the existing international legal framework related to the regulation of outer space activities to prevent an arms race in outer space, the placement of weapons in space, the threat or use of force against or with outer space objects, and to prevent outer space from turning into an arena for military confrontation,

Welcoming, in this regard, the draft treaty on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space and of the threat or use of force against outer space objects, introduced by China and the Russian Federation at the Conference on Disarmament in 2008, and the submission of its updated version in 2014,

Noting the interest of the international community to overcome risks for long-term sustainability of outer space activities;

Recognizing the necessity to elaborate universal approaches to the international exchange of data on space situational awareness in the interest of ensuring  safety of space operations;

Declare the following:

We believe that outer space shall be used in compliance with the international law for the benefit of all nations, regardless of the level of their economic, scientific or technological development;

We confirm that it is a historic responsibility of all States to ensure that the exploration and use of outer space are carried out exclusively for peaceful purposes for the benefit of mankind;

We stand for improving the transparency, predictability and sustainability of the activities of the States on peaceful exploration and use of outer space in full conformity with the norms and principles of the international law, for the development of international cooperation and mutual understanding, maintenance of international peace and security;

We call for refraining form any methods and means or any activities that pose risks of damaging the space environment and the long-term-sustainability of outer space activities of all participants;

We confirm the necessity to ensure that space systems, including commercial ones, declared as civil systems, as well as achievements of space science and technology be used for exclusively peaceful purposes;

We declare that the exclusion of outer space from the sphere of the arms race and the preservation of outer space for peaceful purposes shall become a mandatory norm of State policy and a generally recognized international obligation;

We acknowledge that the guaranteed prevention of an arms race in outer space will provide a possibility for the peaceful exploration of outer space and its use in solving acute major problems relating to economic, social and cultural development facing mankind today, as well as in consolidating the efforts of all States in this domain;

We call upon all States, and above all those with major space capabilities:

a) to refrain from attempts to use outer space for purposes of an armed confrontation and policies aimed at achieving military superiority and dominance in outer space;

b) to take urgent measures to prevent for all time the placement of weapons in outer space and the threat or use of force in outer space, from space against Earth and from Earth against objects in outer space;

c) To seek through negotiations the soonest elaboration of appropriate reliably verifiable legally binding multilateral agreements;

We reiterate our commitment to the principle enshrined in Article 2 of the United Nations Charter – to refrain in international relations from the threat or use of force, including in outer space activities – and proceed from the assumption that all States will strictly adhere to that policy;

We declare that we will make all possible efforts to prevent outer space from turning into an arena for military confrontation and to ensure security in outer space activities;

We support the efforts aimed at the globalization of the international initiative not to be the first to place weapons of any kind in outer space and call upon all States to join the above-mentioned international initiative/political commitment;

We reaffirm the importance and urgency of the objective of preventing an arms race in outer space and the willingness of States to contribute to that common goal;

We emphasize the necessity of immediate practical measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space;

We welcome the work of the Group of Governmental Experts established by the UN GA Resolution 77/250 on ”Further Practical Measures for the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space” with the task to consider and make recommendations on substantive elements for an international legally binding instrument on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, including, inter alia, on prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space, and we note that the outcome of the Group represent an important input in the international efforts to conclude the mentioned legally binding document as well as to ensure the space security and the prevention of an arms race in outer space;

We also welcome the substantial consensual report by the Group of Governmental Experts which could be the reference document for further measures and corresponding negotiations on an international legally binding instrument on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, including, inter alia, on prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space;

We call for further consideration of on substantive elements for an international legally binding instrument on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, including, inter alia, on prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space;

We express our intention to contribute actively to the efforts of the international community to preserve outer space free of weapons of all kinds, and our confidence that prohibition on placement of weapons in outer space and the threat or use of force against or with outer space objects will prevent the emergence of a grave danger for international peace and security of humankind.