India Advocates for a Binding International Treaty to Ban Weapons in Space
India calls for a legally binding treaty to prevent the militarization of space amid rising global tensions.
United Nations, October 21 (Daily Kiran) : India has called for a comprehensive and legally binding international treaty to prohibit the deployment of weapons in space. This push comes amid growing concerns over the militarization of outer space and its associated risks.
Speaking at the United Nations, Rajya Sabha member Sudha Murti emphasized the need for a universally accepted and verifiable document established through multilateral negotiations. “India believes that the threats, misunderstandings, and miscalculations regarding the security and stability of outer space should be addressed collectively,” she stated.
Murti cautioned that selectively addressing certain threats while ignoring others could lead to adverse consequences. She proposed that the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva should serve as the platform for treaty negotiations, highlighting the urgent need for action in light of the dual-use nature of space technologies and assets.
The issue of weaponization in space gained traction after U.S. Air Force Secretary Troy Mink acknowledged the deployment of space control weapons in orbit earlier this month, although he did not specify their nature.
“There remains a disagreement on how to prioritize methods to halt the arms race in outer space,” Murti noted. She expressed that India views the draft treaty to prevent the placement of weapons in space as a foundation for further discussions.
Originally introduced by China and Russia in 2008, the treaty aimed at banning weapons in space faced opposition from the United States, which argued that it was vague and did not adequately address threats from Earth-based anti-satellite systems, nor did it have sufficient verification measures.
In 2024, the U.S. and Japan proposed a resolution in the Security Council to prevent nuclear weapons in space, but it was vetoed by Russia.
Murti reiterated that India is open to universal, non-discriminatory, and non-binding norms, as well as transparency and confidence-building measures, but emphasized that these should complement, not replace, a legally binding document.
