Arria-formula Meeting on Low Earth Orbit Satellites
On Monday morning (29 December), Russia will convene an Arria-formula meeting titled “Risks and Challenges Emanating from Uncontrolled Use of Low Earth Orbit Satellites”. Alexey Borodin, Director-General of the Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications; and Victor Strelets, Chairman of Study Group 4 on satellite services in the Radiocommunication Sector of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU)—the UN’s specialised agency for digital technologies—and Expert at the National Research Centre for Telecommunication in Moscow are expected to brief. Additional briefers may also participate.
The meeting, which will begin at 10 am EST and take place in Conference Room 6, will be broadcast on UNTV. It will be open to representatives of all UN member states and permanent observers, UN entities, civil society organisations, and the press.
Russia has prepared a concept note for Monday’s meeting, which says that the meeting’s objective is to assess the international peace and security risks posed by the uncontrolled use of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. The meeting is expected to serve as a platform for participants to exchange their views on addressing this issue.
According to the concept note, the late 2010s saw a rapid expansion in the commercial deployment of LEO satellite communication systems, driven by lower launch costs, technological advances, and rising global demand for broadband connectivity. It notes that thousands of satellites have since been deployed in large mega-constellations operated by commercial actors, expanding connectivity, including in remote areas and across civilian sectors.
The concept note states that the dual-use nature of LEO satellite systems has raised concerns related to state sovereignty, space sustainability, and international peace and security. It highlights allegations that some LEO services have bypassed national regulatory frameworks, including through the use of illegally imported terminals, contributing to disinformation, electoral interference, and other forms of external influence.
The concept note further underscores the role LEO satellites have played in armed conflicts, including proxy wars, citing their use for intelligence gathering, coordination of military operations, and precision targeting, while also pointing to broader risks to the peaceful use of outer space, such as space debris.
Finally, the concept note recalls that the issue is under consideration in relevant international forums, including the ITU and the UN General Assembly. In this context, it argues that an Arria-formula meeting would provide an opportunity for an open exchange among Security Council members, other delegations, and non-state actors.
The concept note poses several questions to guide the discussion, including:
- how does the global operation of LEO satellite systems intersect with national jurisdiction?
- how can states ensure LEO operators’ compliance with domestic legislation?
- how can states protect themselves from illegal interference facilitated by LEO systems?
The discussion will also consider how legal responsibility and accountability of LEO operators can be ensured, including through national measures or international legally binding frameworks, and whether states bear responsibility for the involvement of operators under their jurisdiction in proxy conflicts.
To date, the Council has not directly addressed the issue of LEO satellites and their implications for international peace and security. It has only touched on this issue when considering broader security issues relating to outer space.
In 2024, the Council voted on two draft resolutions on outer space security issues, both of which failed to be adopted. On 24 April, Russia vetoed a draft resolution on weapons of mass destruction in outer space prepared by Japan and the US. Subsequently, on 20 May, a draft resolution on the prevention of an arms race in outer space (PAROS) and outer space security, which was prepared by Russia, failed to be adopted because it did not garner the requisite support. (For background and more information, see our 17 May 2024 What’s in Blue story.)
After the 20 May vote, the US accused Russia of launching what it assessed was likely a counterspace weapon presumably capable of attacking other satellites in low Earth orbit. It alleged that Russia deployed this weapon into the same orbit as a US government satellite. Russia has consistently denied these accusations and emphasised that its space activities do not violate existing international treaties.
