US intentions to extract Moon resources to be discussed at UN Assembly

New Delhi : On Russia's special request, 76th session of United Nations General Assembly will discuss the issue of intentions of the United States to extract mineral resources on the Moon, State Space Corporation Roscosmos told TASS.

"Yes, it [Roscosmos] is planning to," the space agency said, responding to a question about Russia’s plans to raise this issue at the UN.

"The corresponding item has been included in the session’s agenda. The issue will be raised on behalf of the Russian Federation in line with the procedure accepted at the UN," Roscosmos specified.

Earlier, Roscosmos Chief Dmitry Rogozin had said that extraction of Moon's resources contradicted international laws and Russia will not allow this.

US President Donald Trump had signed an executive order in April, proclaiming Washington’s right to extract various metals and other mineral resources on the Moon, particularly within the late phases of the Artemis lunar program.

NASA later announced the Artemis Accords, a set of standards on how to explore the Moon, which are said to be grounded in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. NASA’s standards particularly concern the use of lunar resources and the idea of creating the so-called "safety zones" to prevent "harmful interference."

The Artemis Accords envisage a series of bilateral agreements between the United States and partner countries.