Statement by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the CSTO member states on preventing an arms race in outer space

We, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the CSTO member states,

recognizing the common interest of all humanity

in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes,

noting the importance of space activities as an important factor in the socio-economic and scientific and technological development of states

and their growing role in ensuring national and international security,

recognizing that international security is currently facing serious challenges in the field of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation,

noting the inadmissibility of placing weapons, including offensive weapons systems, in outer space, the use or threat of use of force in outer space, from outer space against the Earth, as well as from the Earth against objects in outer space, and the use of outer space for conducting military operations,

being seriously concerned about the possibility of an arms race

in outer space and its potential transformation into an arena of military confrontation,

taking into account the provisions of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,

recognizing the serious consequences of an arms race or any military conflicts in outer space, which must be used exclusively for peaceful and constructive purposes,

reaffirming our commitment to the existing international legal norms and principles governing activities in outer space and providing for its exclusively peaceful use, as well as the importance of their strict observance,

underscoring the importance of strengthening the principles of the peaceful use of outer space and the international regulatory regime governing space activities in order to prevent an arms race in outer space (PAROS) and the use or threat of use of force against or with respect to space objects,

reaffirming the need to consider and adopt practical measures to develop agreements on PAROS,

recognizing the primary role and responsibility of the Conference on Disarmament in negotiations on the conclusion of a multilateral agreement or agreements on PAROS,

welcoming in this regard the draft Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space and of the Threat or Use of Force against Outer Space Objects submitted by the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China to the Conference on Disarmament,

also welcoming the substantive report of the Group of Governmental Experts on PAROS, established by UN General Assembly resolution 77/250 and adopted by consensus in 2024, which serves as a reference document for taking further measures and conducting international negotiations on an international legally binding instrument on PAROS, including, inter alia, the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space,

highly valuing the importance of resolutions 80/20 “No First Placement of Weapons in Outer Space,” 80/21 “Further Practical Measures for the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space,” and 80/44 “Transparency and Confidence-Building Measures in Outer Space Activities,” adopted by the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, of which the CSTO member states are co-sponsors,

welcoming the commitment expressed by the CSTO member states to the political obligation of no first placement of weapons in outer space (NPOW), as well as the accession of other countries to this international initiative,

taking into account the Statement by the Permanent Representatives of the CSTO member states to the United Nations “On support for the multilateral initiative on no first placement of weapons in outer space” of March 14, 2019, the Statement by the Permanent Representatives of the CSTO member states to the United Nations “On measures to enhance mutual confidence aimed at achieving the goals of peace and maintaining the global security architecture” of March 15, 2019, the Declaration of the CSTO Collective Security Council of November 27, 2025, and the Statement by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the CSTO member states on preventing an arms race in outer space of June 20, 2023,

declare the following:

1. We believe that outer space should be used in accordance with international law for the benefit of all peoples, regardless of their level of economic or scientific and technological development;

2. We reaffirm that all states bear a historic responsibility for the exploration and use of outer space exclusively for peaceful purposes for the benefit of humanity;

3. We support enhancing the predictability and sustainability of states' activities in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes in full compliance with the norms and principles of international law, in the interests of developing international cooperation and mutual understanding and maintaining international peace and security;

4. We declare that excluding outer space from the arms race and preserving it for peaceful purposes should become an unwavering norm of state policy and a universally recognized international obligation;

5. We reaffirm the importance and urgency of the task of preventing an arms race in outer space and the readiness of states to contribute to achieving this common goal;

6. We recognize that preventing an arms race in outer space will enable its peaceful exploration and use to address major economic, social and cultural development challenges facing humanity, as well as to unite the efforts of the world's states in this area;

7. We call on all states, primarily those possessing significant space capabilities:

– to take urgent measures aimed at preventing the placement of weapons in outer space, the use or threat of use of force in outer space, from outer space against the Earth, as well as from the Earth against objects in outer space;

– to seek, through negotiations, the earliest possible conclusion of relevant, reliably verifiable legally binding multilateral agreements;

8. We reaffirm our commitment to the principle enshrined in Article 2 of the UN Charter to refrain in international relations from the threat or use of force, including in space activities, and proceed from the premise that all states will strictly adhere to this principle;

9. We reaffirm the relevance of taking practical measures to prevent an arms race in outer space as soon as possible;

10. We express our readiness to continue considering and preparing recommendations regarding the substantive elements of an international legally binding instrument on PAROS, including, inter alia, preventing the placement of weapons in outer space, drawing on existing work in this area, including the understandings, conclusions and recommendations contained in the 2024 report of the Group of Governmental Experts on PAROS;

11. We welcome the launch of discussions on the elements of an international legally binding instrument on PAROS, including, inter alia, preventing the placement of weapons in outer space, within the framework of the UN Open-Ended Working Group established by UN General Assembly decision 79/512, and look forward to its substantive outcomes;

12. We recognize that possible non-legally binding measures on PAROS should directly or indirectly contribute to a complete ban on the placement of weapons in outer space, the use or threat of use of force against or with respect to space objects, and should complement, but not replace, legally binding arrangements on PAROS;

13. We reaffirm our commitment to the political obligation of no first placement of weapons in outer space and call on all countries of the world to follow the example of the CSTO member states by considering the possibility of joining this international initiative in full, as an effective transparency and confidence-building measure aimed at preventing an arms race in outer space;

14. We declare that we will make every possible effort to prevent outer space from becoming an arena of military confrontation and to ensure the security of space activities;

15. We express our intention to actively contribute to the efforts of the international community to keep outer space free from weapons of any kind and our confidence that prohibiting the placement of weapons in outer space, as well as the use or threat of use of force against or with respect to space objects, will prevent the emergence of a serious threat to international peace and the security of humanity.