EU, NATO condemn Russia’s anti-satellite missile test

The European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) denounced a recent anti-satellite missile test by Russia.

EU foreign policy, chief Josep Borrell and the North Atlantic Council, the decision-making body of NATO ambassadors, said the test generated a large amount of orbital debris that posed a long-lasting risk to crewed and uncrewed space activities, including to the safety of astronauts and cosmonauts on the International Space Station.

Chief Josep Borrell described it as a clear act of irresponsible behaviour in outer space.

The North Atlantic Council said that, “Russia’s actions demonstrate a pattern of irresponsible behaviour and endanger the security, economic, scientific and commercial interests of all nations and actors seeking to explore and use outer space for peaceful purposes.

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The statements were issued after Russia on Monday conducted a kinetic direct-ascent anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon test against its own satellite, COSMOS 1408.

Russia’s Defense Minister Army General Sergei Shoigu confirmed the successful test of the anti-satellite system, “We’ve really tested a successful promising system.

It hit the old satellite.

“Resulting fragments do not pose any threat to space activities,” he added.

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Kamila/Xinhua
EU, NATO condemn Russia’s anti-satellite missile test