Conference on Disarmament : STATEMENT BY INDIA ON PREVENTING ARMS RACE IN OUTER SPACE - CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT

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STATEMENT BY INDIA ON PREVENTING ARMS RACE IN OUTER SPACE - CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT - GENEVA, March 28, 2024

Mr. President,

Let me begin by expressing our condemnation of the heinous terrorist attack that recently took place in Russia. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims of the attack.

Mr. President,

As a developing country and a major space-faring nation, India is convinced that space activities and technologies contribute extensively to rapid socio-economic development.

India is a party to major international treaties and conventions relating to Outer Space, and adheres to their provisions.

India has initiated major reforms in national space policies, in order to harness entrepreneurial spiritto transform the space sector in India, consistent with international legal frameworks on outer space.

Mr. President,

India has vital development and security interests in Outer Space. India believes that Outer Space should remain an ever-expanding frontier of cooperative endeavor rather than conflict.

We areopposed to the weaponization of Outer Space.

We believe that all space-faring nations and others should contribute to safeguarding Outer Space as the province of all humankind. The benefits of space technology and its applications must be protected and preserved for all.

Mr. President,

We believe that the international legal framework needs to be strengthened and updated appropriately to enhance the safety and security of space assets for all space users.

India supports the substantive consideration of PAROS within the multilateral framework of the UN.

We remain committed to negotiation of a legally binding instrument on PAROS, which isuniversally acceptable, verifiable and multilaterally negotiated in the Conference on Disarmament.

Universal and non-discriminatory transparency and confidence-building measures can play a useful complementary role. They cannot, however, substitute for legally binding instruments on PAROS.

Mr. President,

India participated constructively in the proceedings of the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviors.

While the group failed to accomplish consensus understandings, my delegation believes that the OEWG provided a useful platform for exchange of views about the existing international legal framework and threats to outer space.

India, during the deliberations, underlined the need for consideration of PAROS based on objectiveand concrete criteria and concepts - which are uniformly understood.

India, also, believes that threats to safety, security and sustainability of outer space must be considered comprehensivelyand not selectively.

These threats must be discussed in relevant fora consistent with their mandates.

Mr. President,

India welcomes the consensus recommendations agreed at UNDC last year, to promote the practical implementation of transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities with the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space.

An Indian expert is currently a member of theGGE established pursuant to UNGA resolution 77/250 on further practical measures for prevention of arms race in outer space. We look forward to the successful completion of its work this year.

India will continue to engage positively, in relevant UN platforms, to address issues relating to outer space security, and remains committed to playing a constructive role.

Thank you.