US Officials Alarmed by Russian Development of Space Nuclear Weapons

In an intensified effort to thwart Russia's plans of deploying an antisatellite nuclear weapon in space, American officials are escalating international pressure on Moscow. A senior State Department official disclosed that they have acquired information undermining Russia's claim that the weapon they are developing is intended for peaceful scientific purposes.

The heightened alarm over Russia's construction of a new generation of space nuclear weapons has been steadily mounting in the U.S. capital. This concern has been exacerbated by Moscow's recent veto of a United Nations resolution aimed at maintaining space free of such weapons.

Last month’s veto by Russia has prompted criticism from some Republican quarters, with assertions that the Biden administration is not taking sufficient measures to dissuade Russia from advancing its space weaponry program. Furthermore, there are apprehensions over China's apparent decision not to exert pressure on Moscow to desist from its pursuits.

New Revelations

Mallory Stewart, the assistant secretary of state for arms control, revealed that while the United States has been cognizant of Russia's quest to develop such a device for a number of years, recent advancements have allowed for a more accurate assessment of their progress. Speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Stewart unveiled that the orbit intended for the Russian satellite is situated within a high-radiation zone not typically utilized by other satellites. This piece of information seriously undermines Russia's defense that the satellite is not being designed as a weapon.