A/RES/77/250 GA

United Nations A/RES/77/250 General Assembly Distr.: General 9 January 2023 23-00144 (E) 120123 *2300144* Seventy-seventh session Agenda item 97 (c) Prevention of an arms race in outer space: further practical measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 30 December 2022 [on the report of the First Committee (A/77/383, para. 16)] 77/250. Further practical measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 71/31 and 71/32 of 5 December 2016, 71/90 of 6 December 2016, 72/250 of 24 December 2017, 73/6 of 26 October 2018, 73/91 of 7 December 2018, 74/34 of 12 December 2019 and 76/230 of 24 December 2021 and its decisions 73/512 of 5 December 2018 and 75/514 of 7 December 2020, as well as its other resolutions and decisions on this subject, Expressing grave alarm over the threat of an arms race in outer space, which would impair the prospects for limiting and reducing armaments in general and erect insurmountable barriers to international cooperation in the peaceful exploration of outer space, Recognizing the catastrophic consequences of an arms race in outer space, which should be used exclusively for peaceful and creative purposes, or 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, Emphasizing the importance of article IV 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,1 Bearing in mind that all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, should contribute actively to the prevention of an arms race in outer space with a view to promoting and strengthening international cooperation in the exploration and use __________________ 1 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 610, No. 8843. A/RES/77/250 Further practical measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space 23-00144 2/4 of outer space for peaceful purposes, with the objective of shaping a community of shared future for humankind, 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 an arms race in outer space, 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 preserve outer space for peaceful purposes, and that there is a need to consolidate and reinforce this regime, 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, Convinced that further measures should be examined in the search for effective and verifiable bilateral and multilateral agreements in order to prevent an arms race in outer space and preserve outer space for peaceful purposes, 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 2008,2 and the submission of its updated version in 2014, 3 Stressing the importance of the political statements made by a number of States4 that they would not be the first to place weapons in outer space, Recognizing the primary role and responsibility of the Conference on Disarmament in the negotiation of a multilateral agreement or agreements on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, Taking into account the work done by the Group of Governmental Experts on Further Practical Measures for the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space in 2018 and 2019 in the search for further practical measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space, in particular in the course of future negotiations at the Conference on Disarmament on the international legally binding instrument in this regard, 1. Proclaims it a historic responsibility of all States to ensure that the exploration of outer space is carried out exclusively for peaceful purposes for the benefit of mankind; 2. Declares that the exclusion of outer space from the sphere of the arms race and the preservation of outer space for peaceful purposes should become a mandatory norm of State policy and a generally recognized international obligation; 3. Calls upon all States, and above all those with major space capabilities, to this end: (a) 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; __________________ 2 See CD/1839. 3 See CD/1985. 4 Argentina, Armenia, Belarus, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Brazil, Burundi, Cambodia, Comoros, Congo, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Viet Nam. Further practical measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space A/RES/77/250 3/4 23-00144 (b) To seek through negotiations the early elaboration of appropriate reliably verifiable legally binding multilateral agreements; 4. Expresses its deep regret over the years of stalemate in the work of the Conference on Disarmament, and looks forward to the Conference again fulfilling its mandate as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum; 5. Urges the Conference on Disarmament to agree on and implement at its earliest opportunity a balanced and comprehensive programme of work that includes the immediate commencement of negotiations on an international legally binding instrument on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, including on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space and of the threat or use of force in outer space, from space against Earth and from Earth against objects in outer space; 6. Acknowledges that the guaranteed prevention of an arms race in outer space will provide an opportunity 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 States of the world in this domain; 7. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General to the General Assembly pursuant to its resolution 76/230,5 and his recommendation that Member States study the ideas contained in the report and consider how they can be taken forward within relevant United Nations forums; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to establish a United Nations Group of Governmental Experts, with a membership of up to 25 Member States, chosen on the basis of fair and equitable geographical representation, to consider and make recommendations on substantial elements of an international legally binding instrument on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, including, inter alia, on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space; 9. Decides that the newly established Group of Governmental Experts will operate by consensus, without prejudice to national positions in future negotiations, and hold two 2-week sessions in Geneva, one in 2023 and the other in 2024; 10. Requests the Chair of the Group of Governmental Experts to organize, in New York, a two-day open-ended intersessional informal consultative meeting, in 2024, so that all Member States can engage in interactive discussions and share their views on the basis of a report on the work of the Group to be provided by the Chair in his own capacity; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the report of the Group of Governmental Experts to the General Assembly at its seventy-ninth session and to the Conference on Disarmament prior to its 2025 session; 12. Decides that, if the Conference on Disarmament agrees upon and implements a balanced and comprehensive programme of work that includes the negotiation of an international legally binding instrument on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, including, inter alia, on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space, the newly established Group of Governmental Experts will conclude its work and submit the results thereof to the Secretary-General for onward transmission to the Conference on Disarmament; __________________ 5 A/77/80. A/RES/77/250 Further practical measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space 23-00144 4/4 13. Also decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-eighth session, under the item entitled “Prevention of an arms race in outer space”, the sub-item entitled “Further practical measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space”. 56th (resumed) plenary meeting 30 December 2022

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