Do Not Launch Nuke-Armed Satellite Killer, U.S. Warns Russia
The James Bond villain-esque weapon has prompted alarm in Washington, D.C.
Sergei Bobylev/Sputnik via Reuters
The U.S. has made direct warnings to Russia against deploying a nuclear-capable anti-satellite weapon, reports say, over fears that it could pose a national security threat to America.
The cautions came after Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH), the House Intelligence Committee chairman, last week issued an alarming, cryptic statement about “a serious” threat that the U.S. may need to discuss with its allies. White House national security communications adviser John Kirby later said Turner was talking about a space-based anti-satellite capability being developed by Russia.
Kirby added that the weapon had not yet been deployed and posed no threat to the American public. But the overall threat is being taken seriously enough to warrant multiple warnings being made to Moscow. CIA Director William Burns last week contacted Sergei Naryshkin, the head of Russia’s foreign intelligence service, according to CBS News.
The Wall Street Journal separately reported on the spy chiefs’ engagement and said another channel of communication involved Jake Sullivan, President Biden’s national security adviser, and Yuri Ushakov, one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy advisers.
Both outlets also reported that the Biden administration is also approaching countries including India, China, and G7 allies in an attempt to get them to also deter Russia from deploying the weapon.
If Moscow did launch a nuclear-armed anti-satellite system, it would be a violation of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which prohibits weapons of mass destruction being deployed in space. More than 130 countries—including Russia and the U.S.—are signatories.
Sign Up for Our Cheat Sheet Newsletter
By clicking “SUBSCRIBE” you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
A Kremlin spokesperson last week denied that Russia was planning to put nukes into orbit, accusing the White House of creating hysteria about a new Russian threat in order to pressure Congress into passing new aid to Ukraine.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.