S/2024/383 SC

The Security Council, Emphasizing the common interest of all humankind in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes as a means of furthering the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and the indispensable role of the relevant entities of the United Nations in these efforts, Convinced that space science and technology and their applications, including satellite communications, Earth observation systems and satellite navigation technologies, provide indispensable tools for viable long-term solutions for sustainable development and can contribute effectively to efforts to promote the development of all countries and regions of the world, and in this regard recalling the General Assembly resolution 76/3, entitled “The “Space 2030” Agenda: space as a driver of sustainable development”, Recognizing that the prevention of an arms race in outer space would avert a grave danger for international peace and security, Seriously concerned about the possibility of an arms race in outer space, and reaffirming that the prevention of an arms race in outer space is in the interest of maintaining international peace and security, Recalling the obligation of all States to observe the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations regarding the use or threat of use of force in their international relations, including in their space activities, Recognizing, as stated in the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, that the legal regime applicable to outer space by itself does not guarantee the prevention of 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, that the regime plays a significant role in the prevention of an arms race in outer space, that there is a need to consolidate and reinforce this regime and enhance its effectiveness and that it is important to comply strictly with existing agreements, both bilateral and multilateral, Affirming paragraph 80 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, in which it is stated that, in order to prevent an arms race in outer space, further measures should be taken and appropriate international negotiations held in accordance with the spirit of the Outer Space Treaty, Recognizing that negotiations for the conclusion of an international agreement or agreements to prevent an arms race in outer space remain a priority task of the Conference on Disarmament, Noting that, since 2004, several States have introduced a policy of not being the first State to place weapons in outer space, Emphasizing the paramount importance of strict compliance with existing arms limitation and disarmament agreements relevant to outer space, including bilateral agreements, and with the existing legal regime concerning the use of outer space, Underscoring the importance 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 (“the Outer Space Treaty”) as the cornerstone of the international legal regime governing outer space activities, containing the fundamental principles of international space law and providing an indispensable framework for the conduct of outer space activities and in preserving a peaceful, secure, safe, stable and sustainable outer space environment, Recalling that Article IV of the Outer Space Treaty obligates States Parties not to place in orbit around the Earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction, install such weapons on celestial bodies, or station such weapons in outer space in any other manner, Recalling also that Article IX of the Outer Space Treaty provides that States Parties shall be guided by the principle of cooperation and mutual assistance and shall conduct all their activities in outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, with due regard to the corresponding interests of all other States Parties, Reaffirming the need for all States Parties to fully comply with their obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Recalling the Joint Statement of the Leaders of the Five Nuclear-Weapon States issued on January 3, 2022, on Preventing Nuclear War and Avoiding Arms Races, and affirming that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought, 1. Urges that all Member States carrying out activities in the exploration and use of outer space do so in full compliance with international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and promoting and fostering international cooperation, collaboration and understanding; 2. Calls upon all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space and of the prevention of an arms race in outer space and to refrain from actions contrary to that objective and to the relevant existing treaties in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and promoting international cooperation; 3. Emphasizes the necessity of further measures, including political commitments and legally binding instruments, with appropriate and effective provisions for verification, to prevent an arms race in outer space in all its aspects, and in this regard, reiterates that the Conference on Disarmament, as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, has the primary role in the negotiation of multilateral agreement or agreements, as appropriate, on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects, and urges the Conference on Disarmament to adopt and implement a balanced and comprehensive programme of work, including, inter alia, on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects, to enable it to advance progress towards substantive negotiations on priority questions of disarmament; 4. Calls on Member States to conclude negotiations at the earliest possible date of an international legally binding agreement or agreements on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects, including, inter alia, on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space; 5. Affirms the obligation of all States Parties to fully comply with the Outer Space Treaty, including not to place in orbit around the Earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction, install such weapons on celestial bodies, or station such weapons in outer space in any other manner; 6. Emphasizes with concern the grave consequences for the interests of all Member States, including but not limited to the negative repercussions for the long-term sustainability of outer space activities and, in turn, on sustainable development on Earth, which could result from placing in orbit around the Earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction, installing such weapons on celestial bodies or stationing such weapons in outer space in any other manner; 7. Recalls the obligations of States Parties under multilateral treaties related to nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, and further calls on Member States not to develop nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction specifically designed to be placed in orbit around the Earth, or to be installed on celestial bodies, or to be stationed in outer space in any other manner; 8. Calls upon all States, and above all those with major space capabilities: (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; (b) To seek through negotiations the early elaboration of appropriate reliably verifiable legally binding multilateral agreements; 9. Urges the promotion of the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes and for the benefit of all peoples, including through renewed efforts to uphold and promote universal accession to, and compliance with, the Outer Space Treaty, and appeals to all Member States which have not yet done so to become parties to the Outer Space Treaty without delay and without conditions; 10. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

UN Project. “S/2024/383.” UN Project, https://un-project.org/votes/resolution/S-2024-383/. Accessed .

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