U.S. Congress aware of threat of Russia developing anti-satellite weapons - Speaker Johnson
U.S. House of Representatives spokesman Mike Johnson (Getty Images)
The U.S. Congress has been aware for several weeks of the threat posed by Russia's development of anti-satellite weapons. Corresponding measures from the U.S. side must be taken immediately, according to the spokesman for the U.S. House of Representatives, Mike Johnson.
According to him, he was first informed about Russia's development of anti-satellite capabilities in January. However, this threat became known this week thanks to the public warning from the House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner.
"This is a matter that we’ve known about for a few weeks. We requested a meeting with the president. I did, we did in writing in January," Johnson said.
The letter to the president was sent on January 31, according to his office.
According to lawmakers, on Thursday evening in the Capitol, they were briefed by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, and a Pentagon representative.
"The United States can’t rely on other nations to handle matters like this. We must do it ourselves, and we will," Johnson said.
Backstory
On February 14, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Mike Turner, announced a serious threat to U.S. national security as according to intelligence, Russia plans to deploy nuclear weapons in space. Later, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan confirmed this information.
Earlier, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that the Alliance always monitors all potential tests in all areas and exchanges data among all allies.
According to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the voiced threat is a potential, rather than an active capability.
U.S. President Joe Biden has instructed his administration to hold talks with Russia regarding the possible testing of nuclear weapons in space.
