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Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has no information about possible new nuclear plans by Russia.
© Olivier Matthys/Pool AP/dpa
Does Russia want to station nuclear anti-satellite weapons in space?
Corresponding intelligence reports are also causing unrest at NATO.
Now there should be talks.
Brussels - Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has not yet received any information that Russia may want to station nuclear anti-satellite weapons in space.
“As far as I know, these reports are very, very new, at least for me,” said the SPD politician on the sidelines of a NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels.
We will discuss this with our partners.
Pistorius warned against giving hasty answers or thinking you have them.
“We have to weigh that up.
We have to clarify the technical questions and then see what the conclusion is,” said the minister.
Reports from US media
US media had previously reported that intelligence agencies had gathered information about Russia's new nuclear ambitions in space.
This is said to be about Russian nuclear capabilities that are directed against satellites in space and could pose a threat to national and international security.
The New York Times wrote that the US had informed Congress and allies in Europe about Moscow's plans.
Such new Russian nuclear capabilities are still being developed and have not yet been used.
There is therefore no acute danger.
Fox News reported that using nuclear systems against satellites could potentially eliminate US military communications and intelligence.
There was initially no official confirmation of the reports.
Concern among allies
British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said in Brussels that he did not want to directly address possible new findings in the area.
He simply said in general terms that it was known that opponents would always look for new ways of waging war.
You have to be ready for challenges in space and cyberspace.
Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair called the reports worrying.
In order to be able to react better against attacks on satellites, NATO had already decided in 2021 that attacks from or in space could in future be treated as an alliance case in accordance with Article 5 on collective defense - in other words, in the same way as attacks on the ground or in the air, sea and or cyberspace.
The step was justified, among other things, by the fact that attacks on satellites could be used in the event of a war to paralyze parts of public life.
For example, the processing of cashless payment transactions, mobile phone networks or navigation systems for road, sea and air transport could be severely affected.
dpa