Russia may put nukes in space, Rutte warns
Photo: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (Getty Images)
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has warned that Russia may deploy nuclear weapons in space. According to him, such a move would violate international agreements and could have devastating consequences for security on Earth, according to Welt am Sonntag.
Rutte expressed serious concern over growing threats in space, warning that Russia may be considering the placement of nuclear weapons in orbit, which would allow it to destroy hundreds of satellites in a single strike.
He stressed that this could have catastrophic consequences for Earth, as damaging satellites in space would affect global communications and monitoring.
Rutte emphasized that the deployment of nuclear weapons in space would be a serious violation of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which prohibits the use of outer space for placing weapons of mass destruction.
This treaty, initiated by the United States and the Soviet Union, is intended to ensure the peaceful use of outer space and to curb the arms race between superpowers.
The NATO Secretary General also noted that the Alliance is actively responding to new challenges in space. NATO allies are sharing intelligence, establishing new national space commands, and working to develop smaller, more maneuverable, and better-protected satellites to strengthen the Alliance’s security in space.
Rutte stressed that space is becoming increasingly crowded and dangerous each year, and that competition in space—both commercial and military—is growing more intense.
He also drew attention to the expansion of satellite surveillance over the Arctic, where Russia and China are actively using new maritime routes and militarizing parts of the region.
This poses new security challenges, so NATO plans to expand satellite monitoring of the area to ensure reliable communication for military forces and maintain control over movements on land and at sea.
As a reminder, Russian media reported that in 2024, Iran sent two domestically produced satellites to Russia to be launched into orbit by a Russian space vehicle.
These include the Kowsar satellite for high-resolution imaging and the smaller Hodhod satellite.
In addition, the United States Space Command (USSPACECOM) has suggested that a Russian-launched satellite may be a weapon capable of targeting other satellites in low Earth orbit.
