USA: "Hypocritical"

“Peace in space”: Russians fail with application

Russia's goal was completely different, critics accused Russian representative Vasily Nebenzia (pictured) after the vote.(Bild: AFP/Getty Images/Spencer Platt)

Russia's alleged military build-up in space recently caused a stir, but now the country has surprised everyone by submitting a request to the UN not to use space for military purposes - and failing. The USA is now accusing the Russians of "hypocrisy".

The Russian text called on all states to "take urgent measures to prevent the placement of weapons in outer space and the threat or use of force for all time". However, only seven of the 15 countries voted in favor of the draft resolution in New York on Monday, seven were against and Switzerland abstained.

USA identifies manipulative tactics
China was among those in favor; the USA, Great Britain, France and several other countries voted against the text. In view of a US resolution against nuclear weapons in space that failed last month due to Russia's veto, US representative Robert Wood spoke of a manipulative tactic by Moscow.

Distraction from "dangerous actions"?
Wood described Russia's move as "hypocritical" and explained that Russia simply does not want the Security Council to focus on Russia's "dangerous actions in space".

Russia's UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzia countered that the vote represented a turning point "between those who want the peaceful use of outer space and those who are in favour of the militarization of space". The Western countries had proved to be largely isolated in the Security Council, he claimed.

Russia itself has nuclear ambitions in space
The debate at the United Nations follows US reports in February about Russia's nuclear ambitions in space. The nuclear potential was said to be directed against satellites and could therefore pose a threat to national and international security. In response, the US government stated that Russia was developing military capabilities for use against satellites - no details were given on the specific nature of this threat.

Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected the accusations. He said he was against the deployment of nuclear weapons in space. Moscow described the US draft resolution in the UN Security Council as propaganda.