The United States and Russia, once Cold War adversaries, find themselves again in a contentious nuclear arms race, seemingly inching closer to a precipice of strategic instability. At the heart of the race lies a complex web of treaties and accusations, with each nation pushing the envelope further in both terrestrial and extraterrestrial military capabilities.
This dire need for diplomacy and arms control is further underscored by the precarious state of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty). Accusations fly between Washington and Moscow over alleged violations, with the United States claiming Russia is deploying cruise missiles in violation of the agreement. In response, the NPR calls for a new sea-launched cruise missile (SLCM) to force Russia back into compliance—a strategy that, as some suggest, overlooks less risky and more feasible solutions.
The tension extends beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. Russia has recently vetoed a United Nations resolution aimed at preventing a nuclear arms race in space. Despite the Outer Space Treaty’s existing prohibitions on deploying nuclear weapons in orbit, the U.S. and Japan’s proposal sought to reinforce this stance amidst reports of Russia developing a nuclear anti-satellite weapon. Russia’s U.N. Ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, rebuffed the resolution as a “dirty spectacle,” contending that it failed to ban all types of weapons in space, not just weapons of mass destruction. The U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Linda Thomas-Greenfield, questioned Russia’s motives: “Why, if you are following the rules, would you not support a resolution that reaffirms them?”
The White House also criticized Russia’s veto of the resolution. “As we have noted previously, the United States assesses that Russia is developing a new satellite carrying a nuclear device,” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement. “We have heard President Putin say publicly that Russia has no intention of deploying nuclear weapons in space. If that were the case, Russia would not have vetoed this resolution.”
In a joint statement after the vote, the United States and Japan said they were “incredibly disappointed” in the outcome. “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.” The statement did not provide any details about future plans.
Governments have increasingly seen satellites in Earth’s orbit as vital assets that support various military capabilities on Earth, with space-based communications and satellite-linked drones in the conflict in Ukraine as recent illustrations of space’s significant role in contemporary warfare.
Relevant articles:
– Russia vetoes UN resolution against nuclear weapons in space, Space.com, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 15:00:07 GMT
– Russia vetos UN resolution to prevent nuclear arms race in space, The Guardian, Thu, 25 Apr 2024 10:11:00 GMT
– Russia vetoes U.N. resolution on nuclear weapons in space, SpaceNews, Thu, 25 Apr 2024 10:46:34 GMT
– Russia vetoes UN resolution to prevent nuclear arms race in outer space, JURIST, Thu, 25 Apr 2024 18:53:42 GMT