Conference on Disarmament - Statement by Camille PETIT, Ambassador, Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament, on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (Geneva, 30 March 2023) [fr]
Mrs President,
My delegation endorses the statement of the European Union. I will make some additional remarks in my national capacity.
Outer space has a growing impact on our day-to-day life and our economies. As a result, our societies are more vulnerable to space threats.
Yet, many of the actions carried out in space qualify as irresponsible or threatening behaviours given their impacts on outer space and international security. Long-lived debris threaten freedom of access to and use of space, while disruptions of space systems, glare, blurring or cyber-attacks, including from the ground, can afflict the security of goods and people.
In front of these threats, France remains committed to preserving a safe space environment and to the compliance with international law, which is fully applicable to space activities, and especially the United Nations Charter provisions, International Humanitarian Law and the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.
Mrs President,
More transparency and confidence are needed to reduce the risks of misunderstanding and escalation in outer space.
First of all, in terms of transparency, France chose to communicate publicly on its space policy and on the capabilities we intend to develop in the future. In accordance with the 2019 French Defence Space Strategy, France plans to develop strategic watch capabilities and support capabilities for military operations; to extend its space situational awareness capabilities in order to identify and characterise unfriendly or hostile actions; and to develop a defensive capability in outer space to protect and defend its space interests. This strategy is in line with international law, in particular with the United Nations Charter.
France also welcomes the publication on 10 March of the European Union’s space strategy for security and defence, which France had called for. This strategy will strengthen the European Union’s role as a relevant stakeholder in outer space for the benefit of its citizens.
Regarding confidence, it is clear that the dual nature of capabilities put in orbit makes it impossible to distinguish between military and civilian ones.
For this reason, France is convinced that the most concrete, pragmatic and operational way to strengthen confidence between stakeholders is the adoption of norms of behaviours that make it possible to characterise responsible behaviours according to their impacts on international security. In this regard, France has committed not to launch anti-satellite missiles by direct ascent, in the wake of the work initiated by the United States. This commitment shows our willingness to take into account all threats to outer space security and safety, including threats from Earth towards space.
This approach based on norms of responsible behaviours has the advantage of addressing evolving technologies. It is also compatible with a normative approach aimed at establishing legally binding instruments in the future.
That is why France welcomes the progress made in the OEWG on reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours.
The debates in this working group spotted various types of threats as well as some norms of responsible behaviour which would significantly reduce them. They also tend to show that the opposition between voluntary measures and legally binding norms is not insurmountable. Non-binding norms can build confidence and subsequently lead to legally binding instruments, such as the Outer Space Treaty. Conversely, legally binding instruments can be usefully complemented or clarified by non-binding norms that regulate behaviour, such as the guidelines developed by the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).
On the substance, some transparency and confidence-building measures already listed in the report of the 2013 Group of Governmental Experts on Transparency and Confidence-Building Measures in Outer Space Activities remain relevant and could be rapidly implemented. I am especially referring to:
Information sharing on national space doctrines, strategies and laws;
Notification of the launch of space objects, including through the application of the Hague Code of Conduct (HCoC); and
The creation of a list of national space security focal points and establishment of quick and direct communication channels between them.
Such a pragmatic and operational approach to norms of responsible behaviour and confidence-building measures is the basis which enables us to move forward, while ensuring that the various activities we are carrying out are well coordinated and that synergies are encouraged.
Thank you.
- (PDF - 1.2 Mb)