The White House confirmed on Thursday that Russia is developing anti-satellite capability, but added that there is no immediate threat to anyone’s safety. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said, “We’ve been closely monitoring this Russian activity and we will continue to take it very seriously.”
This comes after Republican Representative Mike Turner, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, had warned of “a serious national security threat” on Wednesday.
White House Remarks on Russian Activity
Addressing the issue, the White House advisor said, “it’s still a capability they’re developing. We are still analysing the information that’s available to that.” “We are not talking about a weapon that can be used to attack human beings or cause physical destruction here on Earth,” he stated.
Kirby further assured that his staff is keeping President Joe Biden fully informed on the situation and providing updates on a regular basis. Reportedly, Biden has directed a series of initial actions, including “additional briefings to congressional leaders, direct diplomatic engagement with Russia, with our allies and our partners as well, and with other countries around the world who have interests at stake,” he added.
“I can assure you that we will continue to keep members of Congress as well as our international partners and all of you and the American people as fully informed as possible,” the spokesperson explained. “We plan to engage directly with the Russians about this and — as well as allies and partners.”
⚡️'National Security Threat' Congress Warned About 'Anti-satellite Weapons' Developed by 🇷🇺Russia - Kirby
— 🇺🇦Ukrainian Front (@front_ukrainian) February 15, 2024
Biden ordered the 🇺🇸US administration to enter into a direct dialogue with the Russian Federation regarding its alleged development of satellite weapons. pic.twitter.com/cBOawX8G4L
Turner’s Remarks
On Wednesday, Republican Representative Mike Turner of Ohio released a cryptic statement saying that the panel had “information concerning a serious national security threat.” He added that the committee “made available to all members of Congress information concerning a serious national security threat.”
In a letter to lawmakers inviting them to investigate the intelligence in the committee’s classified information, Turner stated that it is related to a “destabilising foreign military capability that should be known by all congressional policymakers.”
“I am requesting that President Biden declassify all information relating to this threat so that Congress, the administration and our allies can openly discuss the actions necessary to respond to this threat,” he urged.
Rep. Mike Johnson, the Republican speaker of the House, attempted to defuse the situation, telling reporters that “there is no cause for alarm,” stating that he had been aware of the intelligence since at least January.
“We just want to assure everyone that steady hands are at the wheel. We’re working on it and there’s no need for alarm,” Johnson said.
Speculation about Russian plans to place nuclear weapons in space is a ‘trick’ by the US to secure aid for Kiev, the Kremlin has saidhttps://t.co/qoklIm93YA pic.twitter.com/4ndcuSW1bG
— RT (@RT_com) February 16, 2024
Russia’s Response
On Thursday, the Kremlin dismissed American hysteria about Moscow’s new nuclear weapons in space, calling it a “malicious fabrication” and a trick by the White House to urge US Congress to authorise more funds to oppose Russia.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said he would not comment on the substance of the reports until the White House disclosed the facts. “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,” Peskov asserted. “We’ll see what tricks the White House will use.”
In response to these allegations, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told TASS that the US spreads malicious fabrications, attributing negative actions and intentions to Russia.