The White House has stated that although Russia's space-based anti-satellite weapon is "troubling," it does not now constitute a threat.
According to national security spokesperson John Kirby, US intelligence agencies had learned that Russia had created the technology, but the weapon was not yet in use.
He claimed that US authorities were conferring with European allies and analyzing the data at their disposal.
Although Russia's pursuit of this specific capacity is concerning, Kirby stated on Thursday that there is no immediate threat to anyone's safety. "This is not an active capability that has been deployed," Kirby said.
He affirmed that the weapon was "space-based," but he would not address claims made by US media that it was nuclear-powered or nuclear-capable.
"We're not discussing a weapon that can be utilized to harm people or inflict physical harm on this planet," he declared.
Moscow brushed down the US charges, calling it a "malicious fabrication" and a ruse by the White House to try and get a multibillion-dollar aid package for Ukraine through the House of Representatives, which is headed by Republicans and is opposed to it.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated, "It's obvious that Washington is trying to force Congress to vote on the aid bill by hook or by crook," in comments that were transcribed by Russian news agencies. "We'll see what con the White House pulls off,"
Prior to now, the US and the UK claimed that Russia had conducted a space weapon test in 2020. Moscow called the charges "propaganda" at the time.
According to Kirby, the newest weapon has the capacity to destroy astronauts in low orbit and interfere with important military and commercial satellites.
Additionally, it would be against the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which forbids "stationing weapons in outer space in any other manner" or the launch of "nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction" into orbit. The US and Russia are among the more than 130 nations that have signed the deal.
According to experts, the US is unable to counter such a weapon.
Informed, US President Joe Biden asked for direct diplomatic contact with Moscow on the weapon.The House of Representatives Intelligence Committee chairman, Mike Turner, revealed the concern when he called on Biden to "declassify all information relating to this threat" and made an extraordinary warning about a "serious national security threat."
Andy Ogles, a Republican member of the House, asked House Speaker Mike Johnson on Thursday to look into the possible effects of Turner's move on both domestic and foreign policy and to consider whether Turner should stay chairman.
Legislators were also informed by White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
Turner stated that Sullivan had gone over the administration's options for dealing with the possible danger after the meeting.
He stated, "I think the main thing is that we all left with the strong impression that the administration is treating this seriously and that they have a plan in place." "We are eager to assist them in putting it into practice."
Johnson, who was also present at the briefing, described it as "informative" and stated that the White House will continue to communicate closely with Congress on the subject.
"This is a really important issue. Russia is involved, Johnson said to reporters, adding that the Congress and the administration would continue to communicate closely. "And it will receive attention."The US claims that China and Russia are its two main nation-state rivals and that they are both working on creating new nuclear, cyber, and space weapons systems.
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