Russia seeks to create space-based nuclear weapons, US intelligence says

The United States is concerned about Russia’s nuclear capabilities. This Wednesday, a statement by Michael Turner, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, caused a wave of panic. A Republican lawmaker has warned of a “national security threat” posed by destabilizing foreign military capabilities so serious that he says Joe Biden should declassify “all information” about it.

According to ABC News and the New York Times, this information concerns Russia. Moscow would like to develop nuclear weapons to send into space. This would not be aimed at Earth, but rather a potential attack on satellites.

Serious but not urgent threat

After the speech, which angered Washington, the White House national security adviser tried to allay public concerns. According to the New York Times, the United States has briefed Congress and its European allies about this new Russian capability. Officials interviewed by US media called it “serious”, adding that it had not yet been deployed, was not in orbit and was still under development. “This is not an immediate threat to the United States, Ukraine or European or American allies,” writes a prestigious New York newspaper, quoting an official source.

There is no question of declassifying this information. Authorities fear that their release could cut off American intelligence from certain sources.