White House confirms Russia developing ‘disturbing’ anti-satellite nuclear capability
According to the White House, Russia’s development of anti-satellite nuclear capabilities is “troubling” but poses no threat to anyone’s security as it has not been deployed yet, news agency PTI reported. Speaking to the media, John Kirby, coordinator of strategic communications at the National Security Council at the White House, said: “This is not a proactive capability that has been deployed. And although Russia’s discovery of this special capability is troubling, there is no immediate threat to anyone’s security.”
“We are not talking about a weapon that could be used to attack humans or cause physical destruction on Earth. “We are closely monitoring this Russian activity and we will continue to take it very seriously,” PTI quoted him as saying in its report.
Kirby said US President Joe Biden has been fully and regularly briefed by his national security staff.
Kirby said, “He has directed a series of initial actions, including additional briefings to congressional leaders, direct diplomatic engagement with Russia, with our allies and our partners, and with other countries around the world whose Interests are at stake.”
A day earlier, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner had pressed the Biden administration to make public the specifics of the threat.
“I am requesting that President Biden make public all information related to this threat so that Congress, the Administration, and our allies can openly discuss the actions needed to respond to this threat,” he said.
In response to questions, Kirby said that general US knowledge of Russian discovery of this type of capability dates back several months, if not years.
“But only in recent weeks has the intelligence community been able to assess with greater confidence how Russia is pursuing this. The President has been briefed on this developing capability virtually from the beginning and has been briefed throughout today, including his national security team,” he said.
“This is an anti-satellite capability that they are developing,” Kirby said, adding that the president instructed the team to begin informing allies and partners, not just that Russia is an ally and partner. , but also to include diplomatic engagement with Russia. it.
“Then we will eventually reach a point where we will downgrade and declassify. So, we were already within the scope of that process when yesterday this information regrettably came into the public domain before our ability to do so in accordance with the process,” he said.
Mark Warner, chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and Vice Chairman Marco Rubio said in a joint statement that they had been following the problem closely from the beginning.
“We are taking this matter seriously and discussing the appropriate response with the administration. “In the meantime, we must remain vigilant about potentially disclosing sources and methods that could be important to preserve a range of options for U.S. action,” he said.
Kirby assured reporters that he did not believe he was currently activated or deployed.
“We will engage directly. We plan to engage directly with the Russians as well as allies and partners on this issue. And as I said, we will continue to work on what our next steps and approach might be. I don’t want to minimize the possibility of disruption here,” he said.
“If an anti-satellite capability should be of any significance, it could impact services on Earth. There is no question about it. That’s why we’re taking this so seriously,” Kirby said.