US says it faces “major threat” from Russia over anti-satellite weapon

The White House confirmed this Thursday there is a national security threat posed by an anti-satellite weapon developed by Russia.

“I can confirm that this is an anti-satellite capability that Russia has developed,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters, adding that “there is no immediate threat to anyone’s security.”

What “serious threat” to security is this? A Russian project to build a space-based nuclear weapon against satellites? President Joe Biden’s national security advisor went to the US Congress on Thursday to clear up the mystery.

It all started on Wednesday with the publication of a cryptic statement by the head of the House Intelligence Committee, Mike Turner, in which he called on members of Congress to review certain “information about a serious threat to national security.”

No details on this threat. Just a few lines, published on social media, in which he urges President Joe Biden to “declassify all information” on the subject.

The message spread like wildfire and fueled all kinds of speculation.

It is very rare for senior officials with access to intelligence information to publicly disclose ongoing matters unless there is a risk to citizens.

Members of Congress are not allowed to disclose classified information sent to them.

In an attempt to avoid panic, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Republican Mike Johnson, reacted like this “there is no reason to be alarmed.”

Questioned by AFP, a source close to the matter said the threat was “serious” but not “urgent”.

Citing anonymous sources, several US media There is talk of Russian military capabilities being “extremely worrying”.

ABC News was first to report that Russia plans to place a nuclear weapon in space against satellites.

When asked about this information on Wednesday, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan expressed disappointment that Turner made it public before a meeting scheduled for Thursday.

“It’s your decision,” he declared. “What I can tell you is that I will see him and talk to him.” Thursday.

The adviser will go to Congress in the early afternoon to inform a group of eight members of Congress who have access to the most sensitive American intelligence data.

Russia deemed the information “unfounded” and they attributed them to a maneuver by the US government to force the approval of an aid package for Ukraine that has been blocked in Congress for months.

“We constantly repeat that we will not respond to various unfounded accusations. If they make statements, they should be accompanied by evidence,” Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Russian news agencies.

“This is part of the trend over the last decade where Americans They indulge in malicious inventions and attribute all kinds of actions to us or intentions that do not suit him,” he added.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also reacted: “It is clear that the White House is trying to encourage Congress to pass the financial law, it is obvious. We will see what trick the White House will use.”

The Senate, with a Democratic majority, approved a new $60 billion aid package for Kievbut the Republican leader of the House of Representatives refuses to vote.