US officials warned lawmakers and European allies about Russia planning a space weapon with potential nuclear capabilities. The alert followed a vague warning from Mike Turner, the US House Intelligence Committee Chairman, urging President Joe Biden to declassify information for public discussion. Subsequent reports provided more details on the Russian mystery weapon.
US Officials Address Serious Security Threat, Urgent Declassification, and Global Concerns
Responding to the House Intelligence Committee chairman's alert on a serious "national security threat," President Joe Biden's national security adviser and key lawmakers moved swiftly to allay public concerns. The threat, linked to a destabilizing foreign military capability, prompted a call for Biden to declassify all related information.
Sources revealed the intelligence implicated Russia's purported desire to deploy a nuclear weapon in space, targeting satellites rather than Earth. While officials acknowledged the sensitivity, they underscored the gravity without causing public alarm.
House Speaker Mike Johnson assured collaborative efforts to address the classified issue, emphasizing the need for steady handling. Representative Jim Himes downplayed panic, describing the warning as significant but not an immediate cause for concern.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner urged Biden to declassify information, making it accessible to all Congress members. Lawmakers accessed the intelligence in a secure facility, with Representative Bruce Westerman expressing concern without specifying details.
A letter from Turner and Himes to Congress members underscored the foreign military capability as crucial for policymakers to be aware of. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan acknowledged scheduling a classified meeting with congressional leadership before Turner's request. Sullivan refrained from confirming whether the meeting would address the reported threat.
Despite reporters pressing for details, Sullivan expressed confidence in Biden's decisions to ensure American security. Sullivan also mentioned his outreach to the Gang of Eight, offering a personal briefing on the emerging threat. President Biden had specifically tasked Sullivan with engaging the Gang of Eight in response to the identified threat.
Sullivan affirmed a scheduled briefing for the House members of the Gang of Eight, expressing surprise at Turner's public disclosure. The administration's commitment to strategic declassification in the national interest was emphasized, while Sullivan maintained caution in providing specific details about the threat.
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What We Know So Far
The exact nature of the space-based nuclear weapon remains uncertain, raising questions about whether it involves detonating a nuclear explosive in space or relies on another anti-satellite technology powered by a space-based nuclear reactor.
According to intelligence presented to Congress, the U.S. military lacks the capability to counter such a weapon and defend its satellites. While officials don't anticipate an imminent launch, there is a recognized "limited window of time" to prevent its deployment.
Despite concerns about Russia potentially violating the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, which prohibits orbital nuclear weapons, the new capabilities related to Russian attempts at a space-based weapon are not deemed an urgent threat to the United States.
A nuclear detonation in space could have immediate and lasting effects, damaging nearby satellites and creating longer-lasting radiation belts in Earth's orbit. Such consequences were observed in historical events like the 1962 "Starfish Prime" nuclear test.
Russia is not solely pursuing nuclear anti-satellite capabilities; ground-based lasers and anti-satellite missiles have also been developed, raising international concerns over the creation of hazardous debris in Earth's orbit.
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