United States opposes additional arms control measures on space activities.

• Author: Crook, John R.

China and Russia have proposed negotiation of new arms control measures, going beyond the limitations contained in the Outer Space Treaty (1) and aimed at controlling weapons in space. (2) The United States has opposed these proposals. U.S. objections reflect concerns that the proposals are not verifiable and that any new control regimes will interfere with peaceful uses of space and legitimate measures of self-defense.

In a speech to a Marshall Center roundtable in March 2008, a senior U.S. arms control official stressed the central role of the Outer Space Treaty in U.S. thinking and explained U.S. concerns regarding the Soviet and Chinese proposals and the uncertainties of verification.

[T]he types of restrictions that have been suggested by some states and some nongovernmental groups are not verifiable. Second, even if they could be made verifiable, which we believe they could not, they would unduly constrain legitimate self-defense, commercial and other activities. As our National Space Policy makes clear, (3) the United States will oppose the development of new legal regimes or other restrictions that seek to prohibit or limit U.S. access to or use of space. Proposed arms control agreements or restrictions must not impair the rights of the United States to conduct research, development, testing, and other operations or activities in space for U.S. national interests. Thus, we do not support such binding arms control approaches.

... [I]n our view, the Outer Space Treaty is sufficient to meet today's and tomorrow's needs. It establishes guiding principles for space operations by all nations: that space shall be free for all to explore and use; that space activities shall be carried out in accordance with international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, which guarantees the right of self-defense; that weapons of mass destruction shall not be put into orbit; that States Party shall not interfere with the assets of other states; and that States Party shall bear responsibility for the activities carried on by governmental and non-governmental entities in territories and locations under their jurisdiction and control. These are the principles according to which space faring nations have and should continue to conduct themselves.

We do not need to enter into new agreements. Rather, we need universal adherence to the existing Outer Space Treaty and to the other existing international conventions designed to provide for...