宇宙空間における大量破壊兵器に関する安全保障理事会決議案採決後の日米共同プレスステークアウト
令和6年4月24日
For the last several months, the United States and Japan worked hand-in-hand on a UN Security Council resolution, aimed at strengthening and upholding the global non-proliferation regime, including in outer space.
This is a simple matter of maintaining international peace and security, the core responsibility of the Security Council.
Unfortunately, today, Russia abandoned that responsibility by vetoing a straightforward resolution – a resolution that wasn’t just ours, but belonged to all 65 cosponsors.
China abstained on it, preferring to play the junior partner to Russia than uphold the nonproliferation regime.
This resolution would have reaffirmed the shared goal of preventing an arms race in outer space, and urged exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes.
It would have reaffirmed the obligations of all States Parties not to place any objects carrying nuclear weapons, or other WMDs, in orbit around Earth, in compliance with the Outer Space Treaty – a treaty that 115 countries have joined, including Russia and China.
It would have called on Member States not to even develop nuclear weapons for this purpose.
And it would have helped prevent the catastrophic consequences of a nuclear detonation in space, which could destroy satellites that are vital to communications, agriculture, sustainable development, national security, and more.
Needless to say, we are incredibly disappointed by the result of today’s vote. But we remain undeterred.
The United States and Japan will continue to model transparency, accountability, and cooperation.
We will continue to show up to the negotiating table in good faith, and encourage bilateral arms control discussions with Russia and China, right now, without preconditions.
And we will continue to work with partners, like those 65 countries that cosponsored today’s resolution, to ensure countries cannot deploy nuclear weapons in outer space.
Today’s vote marks a real missed opportunity to rebuild much-needed trust in existing arms control obligations. Now begins the work of righting that wrong.
Thank you.
This is a simple matter of maintaining international peace and security, the core responsibility of the Security Council.
Unfortunately, today, Russia abandoned that responsibility by vetoing a straightforward resolution – a resolution that wasn’t just ours, but belonged to all 65 cosponsors.
China abstained on it, preferring to play the junior partner to Russia than uphold the nonproliferation regime.
This resolution would have reaffirmed the shared goal of preventing an arms race in outer space, and urged exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes.
It would have reaffirmed the obligations of all States Parties not to place any objects carrying nuclear weapons, or other WMDs, in orbit around Earth, in compliance with the Outer Space Treaty – a treaty that 115 countries have joined, including Russia and China.
It would have called on Member States not to even develop nuclear weapons for this purpose.
And it would have helped prevent the catastrophic consequences of a nuclear detonation in space, which could destroy satellites that are vital to communications, agriculture, sustainable development, national security, and more.
Needless to say, we are incredibly disappointed by the result of today’s vote. But we remain undeterred.
The United States and Japan will continue to model transparency, accountability, and cooperation.
We will continue to show up to the negotiating table in good faith, and encourage bilateral arms control discussions with Russia and China, right now, without preconditions.
And we will continue to work with partners, like those 65 countries that cosponsored today’s resolution, to ensure countries cannot deploy nuclear weapons in outer space.
Today’s vote marks a real missed opportunity to rebuild much-needed trust in existing arms control obligations. Now begins the work of righting that wrong.
Thank you.