Burc Eruygur
07 October 2026•Update: 07 October 2026
Foreign ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member states on Wednesday adopted a joint statement supporting steps to prevent an arms race in outer space.
The statement was adopted following a meeting of CIS foreign ministers in Turkmenistan’s Avaza National Tourist Zone on the Caspian Sea coast, ahead of a leaders’ summit of the organization scheduled for Friday.
According to a statement by the CIS, the document declares that its member states conduct activities related to the exploration and use of outer space “in the interests of developing international cooperation and mutual understanding, and maintaining international peace and security.”
“The CIS member states express serious concern regarding the real prospect of an arms race in outer space and its transformation into an arena of military confrontation, which undermines global stability,” it quoted the statement as saying.
It added that the parties believe a ban on the deployment of any weapons in space, among other measures, could help prevent the emergence of a serious threat to international peace and security.
The joint statement was among a number of documents adopted at the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers meeting, attended by the top diplomats of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Armenia’s deputy foreign minister and Kyrgyzstan’s first deputy foreign minister also attended the meeting.
The CIS was established in 1991 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union to promote cooperation in economic, political and security affairs.
Its full members are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Turkmenistan holds associate membership.
Moldova suspended its participation in CIS meetings in 2022.
