Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling on all countries to avoid an arms race in outer space.
The draft resolution, presented by the USA and Japan, sought to reaffirm a principle already established in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.
The US has warned that Russia is believed to be developing a space-based anti-satellite nuclear weapon.
Russia said it was “firmly committed” to the existing treaty.
The project, presented on Wednesday, calls on “all States, in particular those with large space capabilities, to actively contribute to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space and the prevention of an arms race in outer space”.
He also called on countries to defend the Outer Space Treatyunder which all parties agreed “not to place into orbit around the Earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other types of weapons of mass destruction.”
Of the council’s 15 members, 13 voted in favor, while Russia – one of the five permanent members with a veto – voted against and China abstained.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US ambassador to the UN, called the move “disconcerting”.
“Russia vetoed a simple resolution that asserts a legally binding obligation,” she said. “President Putin himself has publicly said that Russia has no intention of deploying nuclear weapons in space.
“So today’s veto begs the question: Why? Why, if you’re following the rules, wouldn’t you support a resolution that reaffirms them? What could you be hiding?”
In February, White House spokesman John Kirby said Russia was developing a “worrisome” new anti-satellite weapon, although he added that the weapon was not yet operational.
The weapon was space-based and armed with a nuclear weapon to target satellites, CBS News, the BBC’s North American partner, reported.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in response that Moscow was “categorically against” the use of nuclear weapons in space.
More than any of its potential global adversaries, the US depends on satellite communications for everything from military operations and surveillance to civilian uses such as GPS systems and financial transactions.
On Wednesday, US national security advisor Jake Sullivan reiterated that the US has assessed that “Russia is developing a new satellite carrying a nuclear device”.
Details of the intelligence behind the claim have not been released.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said: “Russia is firmly committed to its international legal obligations, including the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.”
Russia’s UN envoy, Vassily Nebenzia, described the US-Japanese resolution as a “cynical ploy” with “ulterior motives”.
The UN Security Council is made up of five permanent members – the US, UK, France, China and Russia – each of which has veto rights and 10 seats rotating among the other UN member states.
