The United States, along with allies in Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and the Middle East, issued a statement on August 11, 2026, requesting that nations provide a 24-hour notice prior to ballistic missile launches. This call for notification follows a recent incident where China launched an intercontinental ballistic missile without prior alerting neighboring countries.
The statement, released by the State Department, emphasizes that all nations launching intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and space launch vehicles should notify potentially affected neighboring nations one day in advance. The joint statement highlighted that conducting such tests without adequate notice poses risks to peace and security, increases the likelihood of miscalculations, and undermines global stability.
The U.S. and nearly 150 other countries have previously agreed to a notification system under the Hague Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation, established in 2002. The statement also requests that nations provide specific details about the missile type, planned launch window, launch area, and trajectory at the time of notification.
Additionally, it urges countries to issue clear notices for airmen and mariners to mitigate risks, asserting that regularized notification arrangements do not impede military development but enhance security and confidence among nations. This statement follows criticism from U.S. officials regarding China's ballistic missile test conducted in the Pacific Ocean on July 6, where China reportedly notified affected countries only two hours before the launch and failed to provide necessary details in its notifications.