Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #SpaceThreatsOEWG

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AFTERNOON MEETING, DAY 2, SESSION 3

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The meeting is suspended to hear from the High Rep for Disarmament Affairs @INakamitsu on "Our Common Agenda" and how it relates to the #SpaceThreatsOEWG
Read the "Our Common Agenda" report by the UNSG here: un.org/en/content/com…
A key message from the report is that governance and regulatory regimes require updating in line with this new era of space activity to preserve outer space as a global common.
Read 71 tweets
MORNING DAY 2, SESSION 3, #SpaceThreatsOEWG

Topic 1: norms, rules, and principles derived from existing legal and normative frameworks

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#Mexico emphasizes principles in Article 1 of the #OST.

#PAROS and primacy of peaceful use are key. Rejects placement of weapons in outer space and celestial bodies. esp. those with indiscriminate effects.
#Mexico supports giving legal principles greater precision, and the adoption of norms as interim step to legal instrument to ban weapons in space and use of force and prohibit war

#IHL. Public exchange of info. Supports DA ASAT test moratorium as interim step to legal agreement.
Read 66 tweets
AFTERNOON SESSION, DAY 1, SESSION 3 of #SpaceThreatsOEWG 🧵

Item 6 c) recommendations on possible norms, rules, and principles of responsible behaviour

Topic 1: norms, rules, and principles derived from existing international legal and other normative frameworks
#Russia continues to insist that NGOs are not permitted to make statements during the formal session.
#Canada respectfully disagrees with Russia. The matter is closed. The Chair has ruled and will not change established UN practice.

"As we tell kids in Canada, sometimes, you get what you get, and you don't get upset. It's time to move on."
Read 59 tweets
MORNING MEETING DAY 1 SESSION 3 #SpaceThreatsOEWG 🧵

See my latest report to get caught up on key points of discussion from the second session last September.

ploughshares.ca/reports/the-op…
Session Chair @Tumlleh opens with a call to shoulder our collective responsibility with awareness of urgency to address threats to space systems. #SpaceThreatsOEWG
The Chair notes that there can be no progress if we see this as a struggle b/w different groups and interests. Our discussion is not about opposition, but a GLOBAL issue that affects all countries and persons. #SpaceThreatsOEWG
Read 34 tweets
US addresses space to Earth threats, and highlights what Dmitri Stefanovich referenced this morning: the greatest threat was nuclear weapons in space, which is why the Soviets and US agreed to prohibit them in art IV #OST.
Therefore, US does not consider space-based weapons to be a serious threat today. Refers to the excellent work of @LauraEGrego and @bleddb to underscore why space based missile defence is not feasible, and reiterates US is not, never has, developed this non-starter
This is why we need to focus on behaviours and not capabilities. #SpaceThreatsOEWG. We should not be afraid of making incremental progress, especially if they can make practical and pragmatic difference to space security.
Read 5 tweets
Day 4, Session 2 of the #SpaceThreatsOEWG.

Exchange of views by Member States: 🧵
Finishing topic 3, space-to-space threats.
Read 47 tweets
UK asks what other "low hanging fruits" there might be. especially for TCBMs. #SpaceThreatsOEWG. Dmitri Stefanovich says: total clarity about intended purpose of activities and use of specific capabilities. This is the same in other domains. Can be de-escalating and preventive
Unilateral commitments not to test direct-ascent ASATs are good, says Dmitri, but what will happen if these get challenged? If a capability is being developed that looks like an ASAT but is justified as something else? Will the commitments work?
No easy answers, says @LauraEGrego especially because different activities are understood by different actors in different ways. RPOs are case in point. Need clarity on keep-out zones, communication about intent. Mil activities are fewer than commercial in space!
Read 5 tweets
Is there a potential for non-weaponised mil space systems to be a source of tension or conflict? ASATs are worthless if there is no satellite that is useful to target. The ASAT is the source of tension, not the satellite
Space follows or dovetails terrestrial Military and strategic concerns, they are not at the source. On the other hand, non-weaponised satellite can be regarded as threat to terrestrial systems. This was the driver of the original space age
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The amazing @LauraEGrego now speaking #spacethreatsOEWG on behalf of the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Space based weapons that target Earth directly are easy to identify, and right now only hypothetical. Therefore not the greatest threat, and shouldn't be the focus of the #spacethreatsOEWG
While space is a place, orbit is a condition. Speed in orbit is 30 times that of a jet plane, which takes enormous amount of energy. Rockets are mostly made up of fuel. It's expensive and energetically difficult to put something in space so it needs to be worthwhile
Read 9 tweets
Good morning, #SpaceThreatsOEWG we are taking about space to Earth threats today. I can't promise a thread as comprehensive as @JessLuella_West but I'll try!
First up Dmitri Stefanovic, Russian International Affairs Council. The concept of "ultimate high ground" comes from the notion of space to Earth threats. It's the reason why nuclear weapons at prohibited in space under the OST.
Space based weapons can be part of terrestrial nuclear defense. Luckily these capabilities are limited
Read 6 tweets
#SpaceThreatsOEWG Day 3, Session 2, exchange among Member States.

Follow live with this 🧵 by @JessLuella_West
#France draws attention to FALSE perception that some irresponsible practices might provide more advantages than disadvantages. Must deconstruct through transparency, cooperation, and commitments such as that regarding destructive DA #ASAT tests.
Read 78 tweets
#Algeria: Must go hand in hand with PAROS discussions

Need transparency and more ambitious confidence building measures. Particular responsibility of states with advanced capabilities to prevent PAROS.
#Algeria: Promote full access to technology through cooperation and tech assistance and capacity building in developing countries

Need to strengthen legal regime in outer space for a common future.
#NewZealand: Should not be focused exclusively on kinetic threats. Non-kinetic including #cyber pose significant threats and possible irreversible loss and damage to infrastructure on earth
Read 50 tweets
Exchange of views on current and future threats to space, Session 2, Day 2 #SpaceThreatsOEWG.

Watch live or follow this 🧵 for reporting by @JessLuella_West Image
Livestream is available here: media.un.org/en/asset/k19/k…
#Belgium: recognizes contribution of the paper by #Germany and #Philippines to identify threats and irresponsible behaviour in space.
Read 16 tweets

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