The government of Kiribati has voiced serious concerns following a recent U.S. intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test conducted in the Pacific Ocean.
Last Wednesday, the U.S. military launched an unarmed Minuteman III ICBM from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base, with the missile traveling approximately 4,200 miles to a test site in the Marshall Islands.
In a statement, the Kiribati President’s Office declared, “Kiribati does not welcome the United States’ recent ICBM test.” The statement added that the nation’s stance mirrors its position on similar tests by other countries, including North Korea and China.
Kiribati confirmed it had received a pre-launch notice in accordance with the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation. Still, the government expressed concerns over the Pacific’s use for missile testing, urging countries to act responsibly.
“We remain deeply concerned about the ongoing use of the Pacific Ocean for missile testing,” the statement read. “Kiribati continues to advocate for the cessation of weapons testing in the Pacific Ocean and urges global cooperation to ensure the peace, security, and stability of our shared environment.”
Kiribati called for global cooperation to prevent further weapons testing in the Pacific, advocating for peace and stability to protect future generations.