President Putin Declares Russia’s Opposition to Deploying Nuclear Weapons in Space
Moscow, The Gulf Observer: Russian President Vladimir Putin has affirmed that Moscow has no intentions of deploying nuclear weapons in space, asserting that the country has developed space capabilities similar to those of the United States. Putin’s statement on Tuesday comes in response to recent confirmation from the White House about Russia’s acquisition of an “anti-satellite weapon capability,” described as “troubling” but not yet operational.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby, in a statement last week, acknowledged concerns about Russia’s anti-satellite weapon capability and emphasized that such a weapon would violate the international Outer Space Treaty. The treaty, signed by over 130 countries, including Russia, prohibits the deployment of nuclear weapons or any other weapons of mass destruction in orbit and the stationing of weapons in outer space.
While not commenting on whether the weapon in question is nuclear-capable, Kirby stated that the White House would engage directly with the Russians to address these concerns. President Putin, during a meeting with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, reiterated Russia’s clear and transparent position on the matter.
“Our position is quite clear and transparent: we have always been and remain categorically opposed to the deployment of nuclear weapons in space. Just the opposite, we are urging everyone to adhere to all the agreements that exist in this sphere,” Putin stated.
Putin emphasized that Russia has developed space capabilities in line with other nations, including the United States, and urged adherence to existing agreements. “We haven’t deployed any nuclear weapons in space or any elements of them to use against satellites or to create fields where satellites can’t work efficiently,” added Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.
The declaration by the Russian leadership underscores their commitment to maintaining outer space as a domain free from nuclear weapons and aligns with international agreements aimed at preventing the weaponization of space. The ongoing developments will likely be subject to direct diplomatic engagements between Russia and concerned parties to address the potential implications of the newly acquired anti-satellite weapon capability.
