Preventing the proliferation of ballistic missiles: international legal issues
The article analyses the International Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation 2002, which unites 139 states of the world today. The authors examine in detail the genesis of the development of the Code, indicate the main milestones in the formation of this international regime, and note the role of Russia and Kazakhstan in the development of the regime. It is noted that although the Code initially developed as an independent international document, it was subsequently actively supported by the United Nations (UN), including through the adoption of resolutions by the UN General Assembly. The article makes a forecast on the further development of the Hague Code, which should be aimed at expanding the membership and universalisation of the regime (primarily through the accession of rocket-significant countries such as Israel, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Brazil, Pakistan), the strengthening of trust between States through the exchange of advance notifications of ballistic missile launches and the submission of annual declarations on national missile programmes.