On 2 December Cabinet of Ministers approved the draft law proposed by the Ministry of Education and Science, which concerns approval of an international treaty that sets the principles for countries’ activities in space exploration and the use of the Moon and other celestial bodies. Joining the treaty will promote the development of the space industry and international cooperation.
The purpose of the draft law is to join the ‘Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies’, which was signed in London, Moscow, and Washington on 27 January 1967, and entered into force on 10 October 1967. By 2023, 113 countries have ratified the treaty, and Latvia is the only European Union member state and one of the few NATO member countries yet to join the treaty.
Jānis Paiders, Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Science for Higher Education, Science, Space, and Innovation, stated: ‘Joining this international treaty is an important step in the advancement of Latvia’s space policy. It demonstrates our commitment to international cooperation and supports the rapidly growing space sector in Latvia.’
In April of this year, the Latvian government approved Latvia’s accession to this treaty, and the application for participation in the United Nations (UN) committee was submitted in September. The ratification of the treaty before Latvia’s participation in the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) will affirm Latvia’s understanding of its responsibilities in space and its serious commitment to joining COPUOS.
This will be the first UN treaty in the space sector that Latvia plans to join. Joining this treaty will demonstrate Latvia’s commitment to cooperate and take responsibility for the peaceful use of outer space, given the rapidly growing space industry.
Aivis Kļavinskis, in a statement on behalf of the Delegation of Republic of Latvia Latvia’s delegation report at the Fourth Committee of the 79th UN General Assembly, which also discussed international cooperation in the peaceful use of space, emphasized: ‘Latvia fully supports ongoing efforts within the United Nations, including the work of the COPUOS. We believe that safety, transparency, accountability, and international cooperation must be the guiding principles of space governance.’
Joining the treaty is a diplomatic step that will demonstrate Latvia’s support for a rules-based international order and promote the development of the space sector and international cooperation within the UN and COPUOS frameworks. The main points of the treaty require that:
- The deployment of nuclear weapons in space is prohibited.
- The use of the Moon and other celestial bodies is only for peaceful purposes.
- Space is free to be explored and used by all nations.
- The extension of national sovereignty over space or any celestial body is not permitted.
- There is international responsibility for a country’s activities in space, including on the Moon and other celestial bodies.
The ratification of the treaty will not only strengthen Latvia’s involvement in international space governance but also promote responsible and sustainable Latvian participation in space research and exploration. More information on Latvia's activities in the space sector can be found on the ‘Latvia Space’ website.
The draft law ‘On the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies’ is available on the Cabinet of Ministers website.