US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed with the foreign ministers of China and India the possibility of Russia deploying nuclear weapons in space during the Munich Security Conference. The New York Times writes about this, citing sources. According to the publication’s interlocutors, Blinken said during the negotiations that it was Beijing and Delhi that should dissuade Moscow from possible plans. Sources said that, according to the head of the State Department, the use of nuclear weapons in space could result in a disaster and the destruction of not only American, but also Chinese and Indian satellites.
Earlier this week, the United States reported that, according to Washington's information, Russia is developing anti-satellite weapons. The media note that the probable threat became known only recently. According to The New York Times sources, it is unclear how much intelligence Blinken shared in meetings with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi or Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. Some intelligence officials were against disclosing much data, the newspaper notes.
According to the Outer Space Treaty, which was signed by the United States, Great Britain and the Soviet Union in 1967, the placement of nuclear weapons or any other weapons of mass destruction in Earth's orbit, on the Moon or any other celestial body, or on a station in outer space is prohibited. White House officials fear that if Russia violates the treaty, other countries, such as North Korea, may follow suit. At the same time, The New York Times points out that the United States called the new Russian weapon only anti-satellite technology, without disclosing any details. Officials note that Russian developments do not pose a direct threat to the population.
Earlier, the head of the Intelligence Committee of the US House of Representatives, Republican Mike Turner, called on the White House to declassify information about a certain serious threat to the security of the United States. White House National Security Adviser John Kirby said the statement related to anti-satellite weapons Russia is developing. Turner later revealed that he met with US Presidential National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. The National Security Council, according to Turner, has begun developing a plan to respond to a possible threat from Russia in space.
Experts believe that the ability to destroy the world economy by destroying most satellites (navigation, communications, telecommunications, etc.) without directly threatening human lives, which Russia will gain thanks to new space weapons, will become an additional means of pressure on Western governments.
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