(PatriotsUnited.org) – US intelligence agencies have announced a stark warning to European allies, claiming that Russia could deploy nuclear weapons into the Earth’s orbit at some point in 2024. They also claim that Moscow could launch a fake warhead which could leave the West in the dark about their true intentions. Addressing donors in San Francisco after the story broke, on Wednesday 21 February, President Biden referred to Putin as a “crazy SOB”, garnering backlash from Russian officials for his “crude” language.
However, Dr Bleddyn Bowen, an associate professor at the University of Leicester specializing in space warfare suggested the threat was exaggerated, and that such a weapon would risk Russian interests as much as western ones. Nevertheless, his shocking announcement has sparked a flurry of hasty, classified briefings between NATO and its Asian allies, along with intense press speculation.
Russian President Vladimir V. Putin however, continues to vehemently deny Washington’s claims about his plans, suggesting their claims are ”baseless”. He also stressed that Russia was adhering to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty which forbids the militarization of space. Putin’s Defense Minister Sergei K. Shoigu said that his government was calling for the “observance” of global agreements that have already been made relating to the military and space. Putin also said that he has previously attempted to increase joint efforts to broach international partnerships on the matter.
Putin has publicly spoken about his mission to modernize Russia’s nuclear arsenal, which has included the showcasing of advanced delivery systems like the Tu-160M strategic bombers. A space weapon of this kind would have the power to target satellites, which are vital to communications across and within countries’ borders.
Despite the ongoing outrage, US officials have acknowledged a level of uncertainty regarding their claims about the plans, hinting at the scale of internal divisions within different American governmental agencies competing to promote their narrative. Reacting to the news, the Biden Administration’s Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Chinese and Indian politicians to pressure Moscow against deploying such a weapon.
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