This week, concerns have been voiced by the United States regarding Russia’s nuclear capabilities. The chairman of the House of Representatives’ Intelligence Committee, Michael R. Turner, expressed these concerns on Wednesday, causing a wave of panic. Turner, a Republican parliamentarian, warned that the foreign military capability represents a significant threat to national security. He went as far as suggesting that President Joe Biden should declassify all related information.
Reports from ABC News and the New York Times suggest that this information pertains to Russia’s intentions to develop a nuclear weapon capable of being launched into space. However, it is believed that the purpose of this weapon would not be for earthbound attacks, but rather for potential assaults on satellites.
In response to these alarming claims, the White House national security adviser has tried to assuage public fears. As reported by the New York Times, the United States has informed both Congress and its European allies about this new Russian capability. US officials who were interviewed described the threat as serious, but clarified that the weapon has not yet been deployed, is not currently in orbit, and is still under development. An official source quoted by the New York Times reassured that this is not an immediate threat to the United States, Ukraine, or any European or American allies.
Despite the calls for the declassification of this information, authorities are hesitant to do so. They fear that making such information public could potentially sever American intelligence from crucial sources.
