Russia is pursuing an anti-satellite capability that is concerning to U.S. officials, though the threat is not imminent, nor does the capability itself pose a threat to U.S. civilians.
The United States’s awareness of Russia’s pursuit of this capability “goes back many, many months, if not a few years,” according to National Security Council coordinator John Kirby, though the intelligence community has gained a “higher sense of confidence exactly how Russia continues to pursue” this capability in “recent weeks.”
The previously unknown development was first identified by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH), who released a vague statement on Wednesday calling for President Joe Biden to declassify intelligence he described as “a serious national security threat,” though he did not provide more details.
Kirby released some declassified information during Thursday’s White House briefing regarding Russia’s pursuit of this anti-satellite capability but was still limited in what he would say on the subject.
“First, this is not an act of capability that’s been deployed,” he added. “And though Russia’s pursuit of this particular capability is troubling, there is no immediate threat to anyone’s safety. We are not talking about a weapon that can be used to attack human beings or cause physical destruction here on Earth. … We’ve been closely monitoring this Russian activity, and we will continue to take it very seriously.”
He also affirmed that Russia’s pursuit would be in violation of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which Russia is a part of, and it bans the stationing of weapons of mass destruction in outer space and details legally binding rules governing the peaceful exploration and use of space.
The administration is in the process of reaching out to its Russian counterparts to discuss the intelligence, which they have denied.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) has called for an investigation into Turner for his ominous warning and alleged that the House Intelligence Committee chairman did so to garner support for the spending bill currently being debated in Congress.
“In hindsight, it has become clear that the intent was not to ensure the safety of our homeland and the American people, but rather to ensure additional funding for Ukraine and passage of an unreformed Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA.),” Ogles wrote in a letter reported by Punchbowl. “This act constituted poor judgment at a minimum and a complete breach of trust influenced by the pursuit of a political agenda at the maximum.”
