Russia President Vladimir Putin (left) and U.S. President Donald Trump (right). Photo credit: www.kremlin.ru

Following allegations from the U.S. that Russia recently tested a space-based anti-satellite weapon, both countries have agreed to hold formal, bilateral talks on space security, marking the first time such talks will be held between both since 2013. According to a statement from the U.S. State Department, the talks will hold on Monday, the 27th of July, in the city of Vienna, Austria. At the formal meeting, the U.S. side says it hopes to promote norms of responsible behavior in outer space, calling for greater predictability, stability, and crisis management tools in the process.

The U.S. declined to name who will lead its team of personnel for the proposed formal talks. Notably, the United States Space Command recently claimed it had evidence that Russia tested a space-based anti-satellite weapon on the 15th of July. Such a claim is, however, hard to verify given military defense information and the likes are usually kept classified. “What they’re doing is signaling to the world that they’re able to destroy satellites in orbit with other satellites, it would appear. That is a very disturbing, provocative, dangerous and ill-advised thing for them to be doing,” Christopher Ford, the U.S. assistant secretary of State for international security and nonproliferation, said in a press statement.

“We hope that we can convey that message to them and work on a better way for countries to show appropriate restraint and responsible behavior in orbit, because this is the sort of thing that could get out of hand and go very badly rather quickly in the future,” Ford said.