BY: BRAD DRESS FOR THE HILL
Russia on Wednesday vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution that would have called on all states to prevent the placement of nuclear weapons in space and not take steps to develop weapons of mass destruction that could be deployed above Earth.
Thirteen member nations voted in approval of the U.N. Security Council resolution, including the U.S. and Japan, which spearheaded the measure. While Russia was the lone no vote, Moscow is a permanent member and can veto resolutions. China abstained from the vote. After the vote, the U.S. mission to the U.N. blasted Russia for defeating the resolution and criticized China for not voting against it.
U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood, the alternate representative for special political affairs at the U.N., said the resolution “would have reaffirmed the shared goal of preventing an arms race in outer space and urged exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes.” “We are incredibly disappointed by the result of today’s vote. But we remain undeterred,” he said in a press conference after the vote. “We will continue to show up to the negotiating table in good faith, and encourage bilateral arms control discussions with Russia and China, right now, without preconditions.”
