Britain to lead global talks on ‘responsible behaviour’ aimed at stopping wars in space
THE UK will lead global talks on how to develop rules in space amid fears that Russian and Chinese aggression could result in star wars.
The discussion will focus on how to avoid conflict in space and determine what constitutes responsible behaviour through an international con sensus agreed at the UN. The Daily Telegraph previously revealed that the UK was consulting with other countries on an initiative called Reducing Space Threats through Responsible Behaviours which is aimed at seeking how to increase the knowledge of space threats while reducing the risk of conflict through miscalculation of distance around satellites, in order to avoid collisions.
It comes after Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary, pledged that the UK would bolster its ability to fend off threats from China and Russia in space, following accusations that Russia had tested a weapon-like projectile that could target satellites.
A Government source told this newspaper that the “recent Russian launch shows the need for countries to come together to agree responsible behaviour”.
The draft UN resolution will call for a global discussion on what responsible behaviour in space looks like and will invite all countries to submit their views on responsible and threatening behaviour to the UN Secretary General, for inclusion in a report to the UN General Assembly. The resolution will be tabled in October for votes towards the end of the year.
Mr Wallace warned of the “potentially profound consequences” that conflict in space brings, as he said “all powers should recognise the importance of this not only to their economies, but to global security”.
“Preventing malign activity and reducing the risk of accidents is incredibly important for the safety of the UK, and to the successful military operations that rely on systems in space,” he said.
Although weapons of mass destruction have been banned in space for over 50 years, there are almost no meaningful constraints on the deployment of new weapons or technologies that can damage or destroy space systems, whether from the ground or in space.
The UN talks remain stalled as current proposals do nothing to prevent attacks on satellites from the Earth.
The UK initiative offers to break the impasse on space at the UN, increase transparency and reduce the risk of miscalculation between nations that could lead to conflict.