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.
Nikonov stated there is no doubt that “the competition for the Moon will unfold in the near future,” describing it as inevitable rivalry. He linked this prediction to statements by U.S. President Donald Trump asserting ownership of the Moon.
The Russian parliamentarian noted that the first person to establish a “stable presence” on the lunar surface would gain strategic advantage over Earth’s satellite.
Earlier, on September 8, Stephane Dujarric, the official representative of the UN Secretary-General, stressed that the United Nations adheres to the principle of peaceful use of outer space following Trump’s claim that the Moon is “ours.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov similarly dismissed the assertion, stating it does not constitute a declaration of sovereignty.
Jamie Matthews, Professor Emeritus of astronomy at the University of British Columbia, added that lunar ownership claims lack legal foundation because the Moon is universally recognized as common property. He emphasized that historical U.S. astronaut activity on the Moon does not grant Washington authority to claim the celestial body.
