During a speech at a Geneva disarmament conference, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov criticized the United States and its allies for what he described as attempts to derail the agreements aimed at preventing an arms race in space. He asserted that these powers are pushing a path that serves their own strategic preferences, even as states pursue collective measures to keep space free from weaponization. The remarks were delivered in the context of ongoing debates about international norms and binding commitments governing outer space activities, with Ryabkov outlining Russia’s stance on strengthening multilateral legal instruments that could curb an escalating space arms race and promote global security in orbit.
Ryabkov stressed that Moscow is prioritizing the drafting and adoption of a multilateral, legally binding treaty designed to prevent an arms race in space. He argued that such a document would be essential to setting clear prohibitions and verification mechanisms, thereby reducing the risk that space becomes a theater for military competition. He linked the push for a binding accord to concerns about rapid advances in space capabilities among several states and the potential for militarization to undermine strategic stability for all nations.
According to the deputy minister, the demand for a legally enforceable instrument has grown in tandem with what he characterized as the expansion of military space programs by the United States and its allies. He claimed that these programs are aimed at enabling precision operations and achieving technological superiority in space, which, in his view, could heighten the possibility of conflict beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Ryabkov argued that without a binding framework, efforts described as responsible behavior in space would be insufficient to guarantee a safe and peaceful orbital environment.
He noted that the core of Russia and China’s initiative is a draft agreement on the prevention of weapons in space. This draft has been presented for consideration by the United Nations conference as a foundation for future work in this field. The proposal emphasizes a clear prohibition on weaponization in space and seeks to establish verification and enforcement regimes to monitor compliance, thereby reducing ambiguities that could lead to misunderstandings or miscalculations in critical moments of international tension.
Ryabkov further criticized the United States and its allies for what he described as a flawed notion of “responsible” behavior in space. He argued that, in his assessment, these proposed measures fall short of providing effective protection for space as a shared security domain free from armed conflict. The deputy minister suggested that without binding obligations backed by robust verification, any claims of restraint might be perceived as selective or temporary, potentially undermining trust among major spacefaring nations and increasing the risk of misinterpretation or escalation during crises.
In addition to the current discussions, Konstantin Vorontsov, a former deputy director of Russia’s nonproliferation and arms control office, warned that the risk of space becoming a springboard for war remains a real concern. He described these risks as being shaped by strategic calculations and the evolving capabilities of space-based assets, which could be exploited in future conflicts. Vorontsov underscored the importance of a solid, legally binding framework as a safeguard against rapid militarization and as a stabilizing factor for international relations in the space domain. The emphasis on such frameworks signals Moscow’s ongoing emphasis on diplomacy and legal norms as essential tools for maintaining strategic balance in outer space and for preventing rapid arms competition from taking hold in orbit.