UN reaffirms peaceful use of space after Trump's claim on Moon

The United Nations has reaffirmed that space exploration should remain peaceful after US President Donald Trump posted a statement claiming that the Moon belongs to the United States.

“We believe in the peaceful uses of outer space. And I will leave it at that,” Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, said at a briefing when asked to comment on Trump’s statement, Caliber.Az reports. 

A reminder that earlier, Trump posted an image of the Moon featuring an American flag and the words “The Moon is Ours.” The post came minutes after he shared images of proposed Space Force uniforms in dark grey and black that appeared to be AI-generated, portraying a theatrical vision of US power in space.

The 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which has more than 100 states, including the United States, as parties, prohibits countries from claiming sovereignty over the Moon or other celestial bodies through national appropriation, use or occupation.

The treaty establishes that outer space and celestial bodies are to be used for peaceful purposes and cannot be subject to national territorial claims.

By Sabina Mammadli