The intelligence committee of the US House of Representatives warned members of Congress on Wednesday evening about a serious threat to national security.
Russia would like to take a nuclear weapon into space, say several american media.
For example of The New York Times (NYT), Russia’s intention would be to use weapons to destroy American satellites.
President Joe Biden and congressional leaders are scheduled to discuss the matter on Thursday.
The Russian administration denies the claims of Russia’s nuclear weapons in space.
What is known about nuclear weapons used in space?
So far, little is known about the weapon developed by Russia or the stage of the development work.
CNN’s according to Russia is either trying to create an anti-satellite system using nuclear power as an energy source or a weapon system based on nuclear weapons.
Two official newspapers reported news channel for ABC on Wednesday that Russia is not planning to launch a nuclear weapon at Earth, but will possibly use it to destroy satellites.
According to the Intelligence Committee of the US House of Representatives, satellite-destroying nuclear weapons are capable of destroying both military and civilian satellites from space.
According to New York Times sources, nuclear weapons do not currently pose an immediate threat to the United States or its allies.
What would taking a nuclear weapon into space mean for humanity?
Placing a nuclear weapon in space would be a significant step forward from the point of view of Russian military doctrine, since one of the goals of Russian military doctrine is to be able to destroy enemy satellites from the ground, air and space.
For humanity, however, it would mean decades of setbacks in nuclear weapons treaties.
Assistant professor at the National Defense University (MPKK). Tommi Koivula said in Ykkösaamu that the outer space convention is the last stop that has prevented the great powers from acting arbitrarily with regard to nuclear weapons.
The Outer Space Convention from 1967 prohibits the use of nuclear weapons in space.
Recently, Russia has started actively withdrawing from the Cold War-era nuclear weapons control agreements.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin for example, signed a law in November according to which Russia withdraws from the ratification of the treaty banning all nuclear weapons tests.
Formally, Russia is still covered by the Outer Space Convention.
The New York Times points out that the United States has also developed and even tested nuclear weapons for use in space. However, they have never been used.
The US Defense Forces has warned that Russia and China are pursuing the militarization of space.
What does the US intelligence committee’s announcement mean for the West and NATO?
The New York Times wrote on Thursday that the US administration has also warned its European allies about weapons developed by Russia.
The information that Russia would like to take a nuclear weapon into space was announced by the military alliance during the NATO Defense Ministers’ Meeting and the Munich Security Conference.
According to MPKK’s Koivula, it is no coincidence, because the NATO meeting is supposed to deal with how the security of the NATO area will be nurtured in the future.
– If Russia managed to take a nuclear weapon into space, it would undermine the strategic security of the Western world, says Koivula.
The United States and other Western allies are dependent on satellites, and according to official sources who spoke to NYT, the United States does not currently have the ability to defend satellites or counter a weapon used in space.
Is the threat as serious as it is made out to be?
House Intelligence Committee Chairman, Republican Mike Turner announced on Wednesday that the Intelligence Committee has sent members of Congress information about a serious national security threat to the United States.
– I have asked President Biden to de-encrypt all information regarding this threat so that Congress, the administration and our allies can openly discuss the necessary countermeasures, Turner said.
MPKK’s Koivula estimates that Yhydsvallat raised the threat image of Russia’s nuclear weapons during the NATO meeting in order to justify possible preventive measures to be published during the meeting.
Are Turner’s speeches related to US domestic policy?
According to Koivula, it is also possible that Turner used the new intelligence to accelerate the progress of the massive aid package in Congress.
The US administration is still arguing over the more than $95 billion aid package, which is opposed by the majority of Republicans.
Part of the support is earmarked for Ukraine, part for Israel and part for Taiwan.
The US Senate approved the package on Tuesday, but the lower house of Congress, the House of Representatives, must also approve the package in order for it to pass.
Democrats and some Republicans, such as Turner himself, have argued that a massive aid package is necessary to protect US national security.
How will Russia react?
Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov rejected today’s claims of Russia’s nuclear weapons in space.
Peskov said, according to the Russian Tassi, that it is a plot by the White House, the purpose of which is to push forward the stalled aid package approved by Congress.
Source: Reuters