Russia Blocks U.N. Effort to Curb Space Weapons

 In a move raising concerns about escalating tensions, Russia vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution on Wednesday that aimed to prevent a nuclear arms race in outer space. The resolution, sponsored by the United States and Japan, called for all nations to comply with existing treaties promoting peaceful space exploration and to ban the development of nuclear weapons for space deployment.

Despite receiving support from 13 of the 15 Council members, Russia rejected the measure, calling it "a dirty spectacle" and arguing it unfairly singled out nuclear weapons while ignoring other types of space-based weaponry. The U.S. countered, claiming Russia's recent development of a potential anti-satellite weapon fueled concerns about their commitment to peaceful space use.

This veto deepens anxieties about the militarization of space. With tensions high and accusations flying, the international community faces an uphill battle in preventing a new arms race in the final frontier.