41 Countries Demand 24-Hour Missile Launch Warnings
41 states issued a statement calling on all countries to notify 24 hours in advance of the launch of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), ballistic missiles from submarines (SLBMs), and carrier rockets (ICRMs).
Consensus
- Forty-one countries issued a joint statement calling for at least 24 hours' advance notification of ballistic missile and rocket launches.
- The statement was published on the website of the U.S. mission to the UN in Geneva.
- The call applies to all countries, especially nuclear-armed states conducting launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and space launch vehicles.
- Notifications should include the type of rocket, launch time, launch area, flight direction, and information for pilots and mariners about potential impact zones.
- The initiative was prompted by recent missile tests in the Pacific region that did not follow standard notification practices.
- The statement emphasizes that transparency does not restrict military development but reduces the risk of miscalculation and strengthens global security.
- Russia is not among the signatories to the statement.
- The statement was issued in August 2026.
- The launch of a ballistic missile by North Korea occurred on the night of August 11–12, 2026, marking the 11th such launch that year.
- China conducted a test launch of a strategic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine in early July 2026, notifying only a few countries shortly before launch.
Points of divergence
- The initiative is primarily aimed at Russia and is intended to weaken its military potential in Ukraine by forcing it to warn Ukraine of missile strikes, which Russia will not comply with until the conflict ends. — vm
- The initiative also targets China and North Korea, with China rapidly modernizing its missile arsenal and conducting frequent launches that create tension with the U.S. — vm
- Russia conducted at least 13 tests of the 'Burevestnik' nuclear-powered cruise missile between 2017 and 2019, with only two being partially successful, and Putin publicly announced successful tests in October 2025. — meduza
- China publicly demonstrated the capability for air-launched nuclear strikes in early August 2026, showing a H-6N bomber carrying a JL-1 missile in a video released on Weibo. — vedomosti
- The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea confirmed the North Korean launch occurred around 06:00 local time (00:00 Moscow time) from the Wonsan area. — vesti
Coverage (9 sources)
- US requirement and 40 countries to warn about launch of ballistic missiles: what is known — Вечерняя Москва
- USA and 40 other countries urged to notify about ballistic missile launches at least a day in advance — Дождь (Telegram)
- Dozens of countries called to warn about ballistic missile launches — Радио Свобода
- US and 40 other countries urged to notify about launches of ballistic missiles that may carry nuclear weapons, no less than a day in advance — Meduza
- More than 40 countries called on to notify about ballistic tests — DW Главное
- More than 40 countries called on to notify in advance about launches of ballistic missiles — Ведомости
- USA and 40 other countries demanded warning about rocket launches within a day — Вести
- USA and 40 other countries called to warn about ballistic missile launches — Коммерсантъ
- More than 40 countries called for advance warning on ballistic missile launches — Интерфакс