Senior US officials announced on Wednesday (February 14) that the United States faced a new and
“grave threat”
to its security, with media reports explaining that it related to Russia's military capabilities.
In a cryptic statement, the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Michael Turner, said he had asked members of Congress to review
"information relating to a serious threat to national security"
that he did not specify.
NBC and CNN, citing unidentified sources, speak of
“extremely worrying”
Russian military capabilities .
ABC reported that Moscow intends to place a nuclear weapon in space to use against satellites.
“I am asking President Biden to declassify all information relating to this threat so that Congress, the government and our allies can discuss the actions necessary to confront it
,” added Michael Turner.
The Commission voted Tuesday to allow members of Congress to review the information in a secure location, he added in a joint letter with the body's Democratic Vice Chairman, Jim Himes.
The two officials, however, stressed that there was
“no need to panic”.
A briefing planned tomorrow on the subject
For his part, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan expressed irritation that Michael Turner had decided to publicly raise the subject before a briefing he is due to give this Thursday to representatives and officials of the information.
“It’s his choice
,” he said.
“All I can tell you is that I’m going to see him, talk to him (...) tomorrow.”
This episode comes as Congress blocks a large additional aid package for Ukraine, which has been at war with Russia since Moscow's invasion two years ago.
The Democratic Senate has approved new aid of $60 billion for kyiv but the Republican leader of the House refuses any vote on the project.