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17-02-2024
MOSCOW/ WASHINGTON: The Kremlin dismissed on Thursday a warning by the United States about Moscow’s new nuclear capabilities in space, calling it a “malicious fabrication” and a trick by the White House aimed at getting US lawmakers to approve more money to counter Russia.
The United States has told Congress and allies in Europe about new intelligence related to Russian nuclear capabilities that could pose an international threat. US officials said the issue was a Russian anti-satellite weapon that was in development, not an immediate threat.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he would not comment on the substance of the reports until the details were unveiled by the White House but he said Washington’s warning was clearly an attempt to get Congress to approve more money.
“It is obvious that the White House is trying, by hook or by crook, to encourage Congress to vote on a bill to allocate money; this is obvious,” he told reporters.
“We’ll see what tricks the White House will use.”
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, Moscow’s point man on arms control, accused the United States of “malicious fabrication”, TASS reported.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters during a visit to Tirana, Albania, on Thursday that Washington was talking with allies and partners about the issue.
“This is not an active capability, but it is a potential one that we’re taking very, very seriously. And I would expect that we’ll have more to say soon, in fact very soon, so stay tuned for that,” he said.
Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine has triggered the biggest confrontation between the West and Russia since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Both Moscow and Washington have warned of the risk of a conflict between NATO and Russia.
Russia and the United States are the biggest nuclear powers, together holding about 90% of the world’s nuclear weapons. They also both have advanced military satellites orbiting the Earth.
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that Russia is developing a space-based, anti-satellite capability that has not yet been deployed. He said US President Joe Biden has requested direct diplomatic engagement with Moscow about it.
The nuclear component of what was being developed was not explained, but analysts said that it is more likely to be a nuclear-powered device to blind, jam or fry the electronics inside satellites than an explosive nuclear warhead.
Threatening satellites could cause all sorts of mischief: undermining communications, surveillance, intelligence and command and control around the world, including in the nuclear sphere. (Int’l News Desk)
