US rejects Russian call for new space treaty
WASHINGTON (AFP) — The White House on Tuesday rejected Russia's call for a new treaty to ban the use of weapons in space, warning that ensuring compliance would be "impossible."
"The United States opposes the development of new legal regimes or other restrictions that seek to prohibit or limit access to or use of space," said spokeswoman Dana Perino.
The best way to prevent an arms race in space, said Perino, would be to "encourage discussions aimed at promoting transparency and confidence-building measures" so that countries are not in the dark about potential rivals' plans.
Her comments came after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia and China were proposing a new treaty to ban the use of weapons in space amid concerns of growing anti-satellite missile rivalry.
"Without preventing an arms race in space, international security will be wanting," Lavrov told a conference on disarmament in Geneva.
Perino said Washington welcomed international cooperation "to preserve the benefits of peaceful activities in space for everyone" and was "committed to preserving equal access for the peaceful uses of outer space."
But "proposed arms control agreements or restrictions must not impair the rights of the US to conduct research, development, testing and operation or other activities in space for US national interests," she said.
"Besides, any object orbiting or transiting through space can be a weapon if that object is intentionally placed onto a collision course with another space object. This makes treaty verification impossible," the spokeswoman said.
"The only way to determine such intent is to discuss each nation's policies and strategies for space activities, and we encourage discussions aimed at promoting transparency and confidence-building measures," she said.
Perino said past US administrations had "recognized the impossibility of achieving a verifiable and equitable space arms control agreement.
