United Nations Security Council draft resolution S/2024/302
Date: 2024-04-24 (meeting 9616)
Agenda: Non-proliferation
Vetoed by: RUSSIA/USSR

United Nations
Security Council
Distr.: General
24 April 2024
Original: English
S/2024/302
Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas,
Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cabo
Verde, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia,
Denmark, Djibouti, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany,
Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan,
Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of),
Montenegro, Netherlands (Kingdom of the), New Zealand, North
Macedonia, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal,
Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino,
Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Timor-Leste,
Türkiye, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America:
draft resolution

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
General Assembly resolution A/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,

Reaffirming the applicability of international law, including the Charter of the
United Nations, to outer space activities,

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,

Reaffirming the need for all States Parties to fully comply with their obligations
under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,
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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 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,
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 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 sole
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;
4.
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;
5.
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
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S/2024/302
on Earth, which could result from the detonation of a nuclear weapon or the use of
any other kind of weapon of mass destruction in outer space;

6. 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;

7. 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;

8. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

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Voting result: 13 yes, 1 no, 1 abstentions
Votes by member:
country: Algeria
vote: Y
country: China
vote: A
country: Ecuador
vote: Y
country: France
vote: Y
country: Guyana
vote: Y
country: Japan
vote: Y
country: Malta
vote: Y
country: Mozambique
vote: Y
country: Republic of Korea
vote: Y
country: Russian Federation
vote: N
country: Sierra Leone
vote: Y
country: Slovenia
vote: Y
country: Switzerland
vote: Y
country: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
vote: Y
country: United States of America
vote: Y