In a controversial move, Russia has vetoed a United Nations resolution sponsored by the United States and Japan that called on nations to prevent a dangerous nuclear arms race in outer space. The resolution, which aimed to ban the development and deployment of nuclear arms and other weapons of mass destruction in space, was rejected by Russia, with China abstaining from the vote.

The 15-member Security Council witnessed a vote of 13 in favor of the resolution, with Russia firmly opposing it. The resolution sought to uphold the 1967 international treaty, signed by the U.S. and Russia, which prohibits the placement of weapons of mass destruction in outer space. It also called for measures to ensure compliance with the treaty.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield expressed disappointment at the Russian veto and questioned their reluctance to support a resolution that reinforces established rules. She urged Russia to reveal their reasons for opposing the resolution, stating that it was concerning and raised suspicions about their intentions.

Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia criticized the resolution as "absolutely absurd and politicized," arguing that it failed to address the need to ban all forms of weapons in outer space. Russia and China proposed an amendment to the draft resolution, which aimed to prevent the placement of any weapons in outer space and the threat of force in such a domain. However, the amendment failed to garner enough votes for adoption.

Nebenzia accused the U.S. of obstructing a Russian-Chinese proposal for a treaty against placing weapons in outer space since 2008. Thomas-Greenfield countered by accusing Russia of undermining global treaties and evading arms control obligations.

The rejected resolution highlighted the grave danger an arms race in outer space poses to international peace and security. It emphasized compliance with international law and the U.N. Charter, calling on countries to refrain from deploying weapons of mass destruction on celestial bodies or in orbit around the Earth.

The vetoed resolution also underscored the importance of further measures, including political commitments and legally binding instruments, with provisions for verification, to prevent an arms race in outer space.

The U.N. Conference on Disarmament, based in Geneva, was urged by the resolution to adopt and implement a comprehensive program of work to address this issue. However, the conference has made limited progress in recent years, with countries using it as a platform for critiquing or defending their respective weapons programs.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, at a previous council meeting, emphasized the increased risk of nuclear warfare due to rising geopolitical tensions and mistrust. He warned that humanity cannot afford a repeat of the devastation witnessed during World War II and called for the prevention of a nuclear doomsday.

The failure to pass the resolution is seen as a missed opportunity to reinforce existing arms control obligations and rebuild trust among nations. The global community is left grappling with the potential catastrophic consequences of a nuclear explosion in outer space, including the destruction of essential services provided by satellites.

It remains to be seen how the international community will address the pressing issue of preventing an arms race in outer space and ensuring the long-term security of the planet.