Permanent Mission of India

Conference on Disarmament

*****

Statement by Ambassador Anupam Ray at the Subsidiary Body 3, Conference on Disarmament, Geneva, June 28, 2024

Mr. Coordinator,

Thank you for giving me the floor. Let me begin by thanking you for coordinating Subsidiary Body 3. My delegation assures you of our support.

Mr. Coordinator,

India is a space-faring nation. We have a well-developed space programme with development and security dimensions. India landed a spacecraft on the moon last year and is preparing for human space flight – Gaganyaan.

India believes that Outer Space belongs to all of us. We are one earth, one family, and have one future.

Mr. Coordinator,

A central difference of opinion has existed and continues to exist on the subject of this Subsidiary Body’s work and there always have been two approaches to outer space arms control.

India participated in the GGE on further practical measures on prevention of an arms race in outer space, held in 2018-2019; and the OEWG on reducing space threats through norms, rules, and principles of responsible behavior held in 2022-2023.

India is also represented in the GGE, created pursuant to resolution 77/250, which is currently underway.

India would like to reiterate our preference for a legally binding instrument on Preventing Arms Race in Outer Space - which is universally acceptable, verifiable, and multilaterally negotiated in the Conference on Disarmament.

The draft Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space proposed by China and Russia could be a useful basis for further discussions. We believe that an object or hardware-based approach has its merits.

Mr. Coordinator,

India is also open to the development of universal and non-discriminatory non-binding norms and transparency and confidence building measures, as they can be complementary to a legally binding instrument.

We believe, however, that they are not a substitute for legally binding instruments.

Mr. Coordinator,

India recognizes that the OEWG on reducing space threats through responsible behaviors has done important work. It is however very much work in progress. We have a number of reservations which we have articulated.

India believes that threats to safety, security and sustainability of outer space, considerations relating to misunderstanding, miscalculation and misperceptions, as well as threshold for what may constitute a use of force in Outer Space, must be considered comprehensively

India cannot support a selective focus on certain space threats, over others.

We continue to have substantial concerns about the subjectivity involved in the determination of what constitutes what has been described as a behavior, and its further classification into responsible and irresponsible. We are concerned about who makes these assessments; about how these assessments are made; and about the manner of application of such determinations.

India recognizes that verification of space behavior, including access to relevant information and data, poses challenges.

India, as a developing country, believes that the outcomes of any space security related process should not discourage the exchange of scientific and technological research and development for peaceful and legitimate purposes.

In conclusion, Mr. Coordinator, India supports this SB adopting a technical report on the lines of those which will be adopted by other SBs with a view to facilitating continuity of work, under your leadership, next year.

*****