Russia Reaffirms Its Position on the Demilitarization of Space
On March 10 local time, Dmitry Rogozin, President of the Russian State Space Corporation, reiterated that Russia advocates for the establishment of a legally binding international mechanism to prohibit the deployment of any type of weapons in space, prohibit the use of force in space, from space, or against space, in order to prevent an arms race in outer space.
Rogozin emphasized, “Space should remain free of any type of weapons. An arms race in space could bring catastrophic consequences for all humanity.” He pointed out that the principle of peaceful use of outer space has been enshrined in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, and considering the emergence of new directions in space activities such as nuclear energy, it is necessary to continue improving relevant international legal documents.
Rogozin confirmed that the International Space Station will operate until 2028, with deorbiting procedures starting in the same year and crashing down in 2030. The first module of the Russian orbital space station will be launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in 2028.
He also noted that space is not only a field for scientific exploration but also a battleground for economic competition, with intense global competition currently existing.
Earlier reports indicated that the U.S. is developing the "Iron Dome" missile defense system, which includes space weapon systems. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin previously stated that space is the “main battlefield for the coming centuries,” advocating for “U.S. dominance in the orbital domain.” (Reporter: Hao Wei, CCTV)
On March 10, 2023, the president of Russia's National Space Corporation, Bakhanov, reaffirmed Russia's stance on the demilitarization of space, advocating for a legally binding international mechanism to prohibit weapon deployment in space. He warned that a space arms race could have disastrous consequences for humanity and confirmed the operational timeline for the International Space Station until 2028, with plans for its deorbiting by 2030.
- Russia's National Space Corporation president Bakhanov reiterated the need for a legal framework to prevent weapon deployment in space.
- He emphasized that space should remain free of any weapons to avoid catastrophic consequences for humanity.
- The International Space Station is confirmed to operate until 2028, with plans for deorbiting by 2030.
- Bakhanov highlighted the intense global competition in space, particularly regarding economic interests.