We, the Heads of States and Government of the Russian Federation and African States, recognized by the United Nations (UN) (hereinafter also referred to as the Russian Federation and African States), and representatives of the African Union and Africa’s leading integration organizations, gathered on 28 July 2023 in Saint-Petersburg (Russian Federation) to participate in the Second Russia-Africa Summit,
Recognizingthe common interest of all humankind in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes,
Acknowledging the significance of outer space activities as an important factor of social, economic, scientific and technological development of States, as well as their role in maintaining national and global security,
Recognizing that international security is currently facing serious challenges in the sphere of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation,
Expressing serious concern over the plans declared by certain States that include placement of weapons, in particular strike combat systems, in outer space, the threat or use of force in outer space, from space against Earth and from Earth against objects in outer space and the use of outer space for combat operations,
Seriously concerned about the possibility of an arms race in outer space and of outer space turning into an arena of military confrontation, and bearing in mind the importance of articles III and IV of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,
Recognizing the catastrophic consequences of an arms race in outer space, which shall be used exclusively for peaceful and creative purposes, or any military conflicts in outer space and that the prevention of an arms race in outer space would avert a grave danger for international peace and security,
Reaffirming the commitment to the norms and principles of international law governing activities in outer space and providing for its exclusively peaceful use, as well as the importance of their strict compliance,
Recognizing that, while the existing international treaties related to outer space and the legal regime provided for therein play a positive role in regulating outer space activities, they are unable to fully prevent the placement of weapons in outer space and the threat or use of force in outer space, from space against Earth and from Earth against objects in outer space, and preserve outer space for peaceful purposes,
Emphasizing the need to enhance the existing international legal framework related to the regulation of outer space activities to prevent an arms race in outer space, the placement of weapons in space, the threat or use of force against or with outer space objects, and to prevent outer space from turning into an arena for military confrontation,
Reaffirming that practical measures shall be examined and taken in the search for agreements to prevent an arms race in outer space,
Convinced that such measures could critically improve conditions for efficiently addressing the threat of an arms race in outer space, including the threat of the placement of weapons in outer space,
Recognizing the primary role and responsibility of the Conference on Disarmament in the negotiation of a multilateral agreement or agreements on the prevention of an arms race in outer space,
Welcoming, in this regard, the draft treaty on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space and of the threat or use of force against outer space objects, introduced by China and the Russian Federation at the Conference on Disarmament in 2008, and the submission of its updated version in 2014,
Taking into account the work done by the UN Group of Governmental Experts on Further Practical Measures for the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space in 2018 and 2019 in the search for further practical measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space, in particular in the course of future negotiations at the Conference on Disarmament on the international legally binding instrument in this regard,
Underscoring the importance of the UN General Assembly resolutions 77/40 ”Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space“, 77/42 ”No First Placement of Weapons in Outer Space“, 77/250 ”Further Practical Measures for the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space“ and 77/251 ”Transparency and Confidence-building Measures in Outer Space Activities“, adopted at its 77th session,
Declare the following:
1. We believe that outer space shall be used in compliance with the international law for the benefit of all nations, regardless of the level of their economic, scientific or technological development;
2. We confirm that it is a historic responsibility of all States to ensure that the exploration and use of outer space are carried out exclusively for peaceful purposes for the benefit of mankind;
3. We stand for improving the predictability and sustainability of the activities of the States on peaceful exploration and use of outer space in full conformity with the norms and principles of the international law, for the development of international cooperation and mutual understanding, maintenance of international peace and security;
4. We declare that the exclusion of outer space from the sphere of the arms race and the preservation of outer space for peaceful purposes shall become a mandatory norm of State policy and a generally recognized international obligation;
5. We acknowledge that the guaranteed prevention of an arms race in outer space will provide an opportunity for the peaceful exploration of outer space and its use in solving acute major problems relating to economic, social and cultural development facing mankind today, as well as in consolidating the efforts of all States in this domain;
6. We call upon all States, and above all those with major space capabilities, to this end:
a) To take urgent measures to prevent for all time the placement of weapons in outer space and the threat or use of force in outer space, from space against Earth and from Earth against objects in outer space;
b) To seek through negotiations the early elaboration of appropriate reliably verifiable legally binding multilateral agreements;
7. We reiterate our commitment to the principle enshrined in Article 2 of the United Nations Charter – to refrain in international relations from the threat or use of force, including in outer space activities – and proceed from the assumption that all States will strictly adhere to that policy;
8. We declare that we will make all possible efforts to prevent outer space from turning into an arena for military confrontation and to ensure security in outer space activities;
9. We support the efforts aimed at the globalization of the international initiative not to be the first to place weapons of any kind in outer space;
10. We call upon all States to join the above-mentioned international initiative/political commitment;
11. We reaffirm the importance and urgency of the objective of preventing an arms race in outer space and the willingness of States to contribute to that common goal;
12. We emphasize the crucial importance of immediate practical measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space;
13. We welcome, in this regard, the adoption by the 77th UN General Assembly session of Resolution 77/250 on ”Further Practical Measures for the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space“, providing for the establishment of a Group of Governmental Experts to consider and make recommendations on substantive elements for an international legally binding instrument on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, including, inter alia, on prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space, and look forward to a substantive report by the Group with conclusions and recommendations in conformity with its mandate;
14. We express our intention to contribute actively to the efforts of the international community to preserve outer space free of weapons of all kinds, and our confidence that prohibition on placement of weapons in outer space and the threat or use of force against or with outer space objects will prevent the emergence of a grave danger for international peace and security of humankind.