As of: February 15, 2024, 9:00 p.m
By: Mark Stoffers
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A strategic Russian Topol-M nuclear missile at a military parade in Moscow (archive photo).
© Yuri Kochetkov/EPA/dpa
In the USA, a demand from Republican Mike Turner is causing a stir.
His appeal sparks some bizarre theories.
Now Russia is speaking out.
Update from February 15th, 8:52 p.m.:
After alarm bells rang in the USA last day because Republican Mike Turner spoke of a “serious” threat to US national security, a White House official has now commented on the developments .
Regarding speculation that Vladimir Putin wants to send a nuclear missile into space, John Kirby from
DW.com
said : "Russia is developing anti-satellite capabilities."
Putin's nuclear missile in space: Russia is apparently working on an anti-satellite weapon
The White House confirmed on Thursday that Russia is probably working on an anti-satellite weapon.
The communications director of US President Joe Biden's National Security Council said that although the capability was "concerning", it had not yet been used.
"First, this is not an active capability that has been deployed, and while Russia's pursuit of this specific capability is troubling, there is no immediate threat to anyone's safety," White House national security spokesman John Kirby said.
“We are not talking about a weapon that can be used to attack people or cause physical destruction here on Earth.”
How would an anti-satellite weapon work?
Almudena Azcarate Ortega, who specializes in space security at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, said such weapons “do not cause physical damage but instead disrupt vital satellite communications.”
“It would be a non-kinetic type of capability, so like a jammer that creates noise on the same radio frequency band as the space system or ground station it is targeting to block or jam the signal, in this case from space reached Earth," she told
DW.
“So in that sense it would be felt on Earth.
It would not be a direct source of damage,” the expert explained.
“The damage that would be felt would be reverberating in nature because it could disrupt or disrupt the services that a particular satellite provides to Earth.”
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Reports about Russia's plans for a nuclear missile in space - Kremlin speaks of "evil fantasies"
Update from February 15th, 4:43 p.m.:
After reports about Russian plans to send a nuclear missile into space, Moscow has now also spoken out.
The Kremlin accused the US government of pursuing political goals by deliberately disseminating the information.
“It is obvious that the White House is trying to use all tricks and subtleties to get Congress to vote on the bill to provide money (for Ukraine),” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to the Interfax news
agency
.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov is quoted by the Russian state agency
Tass
as saying that the information is nothing more than “malicious fantasies” .
The money mentioned by Peskov is arms aid for Ukraine, which is being attacked by Russia.
After a months-long dispute between Democrats and Republicans, the US Senate approved the release of the funds a few days ago.
However, the House of Representatives still has to agree - and whether this will happen is questionable.
The Republicans are in charge in the House of Representatives.
And MPs from the right-wing fringe of the party are vehemently opposed to further US aid to Ukraine.
“Serious” threat to the USA: Russia is said to be planning to send a nuclear missile into space
First report:
Washington DC - While Donald Trump is causing outrage around the world with his NATO statements, speculation has been sparked in the US capital Washington about a possible threat to national security in the USA.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner released a statement Wednesday saying his committee had "provided information about a serious threat to national security" to all members of Congress.
“Serious” threat to national security in the USA: MP demands clarity from Biden
The representative called on US President Joe Biden to declassify all information on this threat so that Congress, the administration and allies can openly discuss the measures needed in response, he wrote in his statement, which Turner posted on X (formerly Twitter) shared.
“I call on President Biden to declassify all information about this threat so that Congress, the administration and our allies can openly discuss the actions necessary to respond to this threat,” the statement continued.
National security in the USA is threatened: Biden's security advisor comments on the situation
The Republican did not specify what kind of threat it was, thereby giving rise to all sorts of speculation.
When asked at a press conference in the White House, Biden's security advisor Jake Sullivan confirmed that he had scheduled a briefing of the so-called "Gang of Eight" for Thursday.
“So I'm a little surprised that Congressman Turner went public today ahead of a scheduled meeting with him and our intelligence and defense experts.” He did not respond to several questions about what type of threat this was.
Still, Sullivan added, “Americans understand that there are a number of threats and challenges we face every day.
“These threats and challenges range from terrorism to state actors, and we must address them in a way that ensures the ultimate security of the American people,” the President’s National Security Advisor continued.
The “Gang of Eight” includes high-ranking members of Congress from both parties who can be briefed by the president on intelligence activities and covert operations.
USA alarmed about possible Putin plans: Russia is apparently planning to send a nuclear missile into space
US media such as
ABC News
and
Politico
have now reported that the threat is apparently related to Russia.
According to the information, there are signs that Russia under ruler Vladimir Putin is pursuing a plan to transport a nuclear weapon into space.
Apparently there are no plans to attack targets on Earth; rather, it should be a possible use against satellites in an emergency.
According to ABC News, a source said the development "would be a big deal" and was "very concerning and extremely sensitive."
Demand from Republican Turner clears way for bizarre UFO theories
The cryptic statement warning of a possible "serious national security threat" sparked speculation among many social media users on Wednesday about a connection to UFOs.
“UFO, am I right?
“Simulation over?” wrote the well-known radio presenter Hugh Hewitt on X.
X user @Beard__Believer expressed a similar sentiment: “I really hope these are UFOs/UAPs and that we are one step closer to revealing them.
Either way, watch out, America!
Something bad is coming our way…”
Cautious all-clear from the USA: speculation about possible threats to national security
But there was also the all-clear: Erik Wasson of
Bloomberg News
reported on
At the same time, Wasson also explained in his post that it is a “serious” problem that Turner rightly focuses on, but that it has existed for a long time, Wasson wrote on X.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, meanwhile, told reporters: "We're working on it and there's no reason to be alarmed." It is not in a position to pass on the classified information.
“But we would like to reassure everyone that we have the steering wheel firmly in our hands.” Regardless of the situation, the only thing that is certain is that Donald Trump will not remain the only topic of interest in the USA in the next few days.
(Mark Stoffers)