Militarisation of space and nuclear weapons
Militarisation of space and nuclear weapons

Author(s): Miroslav Tůma
Subject(s): Security and defense
Published by: Ústav mezinárodních vztahů
Keywords: outer space; anti-satellite
Summary/Abstract: In the first half of February 2024, the U.S. accusing Russia ofdeveloing anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon with a nuclear payloadand intending to place it in low-Earth orbit attracted attention.This came at a time of increasingly tense US-Russian securityrelations and the growing threat of a nuclear conflict. Thisreflection recounts the circumstances surrounding the publicationof the allegations and describes the main international legalinstruments preventing the deployment of weapons of massdestruction in space. It also provides a brief history of effortsto prevent an arms race in space.In response to the continuation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict,and the risk of an increase in deterrence between NATO andRussia, the reflection highlights some of the recommendationsof former US Deputy Secretary General of NATO and leading armscontrol expert Rose Gottemoeller, which she made with the aimto reduce the risk of conventional and nuclear confrontation inEurope. It also recalls similarly focused articles by several armscontrol experts of the prestigious non-governmental institutionStockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).It concludes by pointing out the possible negative consequencesof the potential militarisation of space and the launch of armsraces in this area. At the same time, it expresses support for theresumption of arms control negotiations between the main rivalcountries.

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