On the eve of the latest meeting of the United Nations working group on reducing the space threat, the European Union member states, not the European Union itself, have pledged not to conduct destructive anti-satellite direct ascent tests. In a recently published document on space threat reduction by the UN Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG), the EU’s “joint contribution” included a commitment by 27 member states not to carry out such ASAT tests that could generate significant debris. Breaking Defense was the first to report on the document.

The bolded and underlined passage of the EU states that “Member states of the European Union undertake not to conduct destructive tests of direct-launched anti-satellite missiles”.

The United States first announced its intention not to conduct such tests in April 2022, five months after Russia’s directly ascending ASAT collided with an inoperative satellite, leaving nearly 1,800 pieces of debris behind. Twelve countries followed the USA, including five EU members: Austria, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. Last December, 155 countries backed a UN General Assembly resolution calling on countries to implement similar bans.

“Concerned that the use of disruptive anti-space systems could have a large-scale and irreversible impact on space, EU Member States consider such a commitment an urgent and first measure aimed at preventing damage to the space environment. To prevent an arms race in space,” the EU document states. contribute to the development of more measures”.

The European Union has made no further official statement regarding this commitment, but an EU official confirmed that it applies to all 27 countries.

“All EU member states have committed not to conduct destructive tests of direct-launched anti-satellite missiles,” EU spokesman Peter Stano told SpaceNews on August 24. said. “Agreed to express this collectively in the EU’s joint contribution to the work of the Open Ended Working Group on Space Threat Reduction through the Norms, Rules and Principles of Responsible Behavior.”

“The EU welcomes this joint commitment.” Erdogan said, noting that this does not concern the European Union. “However, it is not an obligation of the EU as such potential behavior is outside the EU’s jurisdiction.”

Despite overwhelming support at last December’s UN vote to ban destructive ASAT testing, advocates continued to press individual countries to make formal commitments to avoid such testing. Speaking at the Space Summit in New York on June 13, Audrey Shaffer, then director of space policy at the National Security Council, said the UN resolution was not a commitment in itself, but only encouraged countries to adopt the ban. Do not do such tests.

“To truly establish an internationally accepted norm banning destructive testing of DA-ASAT missiles, we need a critical number of countries to truly commit to it,” he said. “We must continue the drumming of nations that adhere to this new international norm.”

The OEWG will hold its fourth and final working session on 28 August in Geneva. The purpose of this session is to finalize recommended measures, such as banning the ASAT test, and present them to the United Nations. In its document, the EU endorsed several codes of conduct that cover a range of issues, from deliberate activities that create space debris to activities that damage space services. It also supports transparency of space activities, such as sharing space policy information and providing pre-launch notifications.

But many observers are skeptical that task force members will be able to agree on a final report with any substantial recommendations. A separate document submitted by Russia states that the OWEG report must approve a legally binding agreement to prevent the deployment of weapons in space; This is an issue long championed by Russia and China, but opposed by the United States and many other Western countries. Source