1 of 2 John Kirby, spokesman for the US National Security Council Photo: Portal John Kirby, spokesman for the US National Security Council Photo: Portal
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said U.S. intelligence officials had information that Russia had developed the technology but the weapon was not yet operational.
U.S. officials are analyzing the information they have about the new technology and have consulted with allies and partners on the issue.
“We're not talking about a weapon that could attack people or cause physical destruction here on Earth,” Kirby said.
During a press conference, journalists asked Kirby whether the weapon used to destroy satellites was nuclear, and the spokesman did not answer.
The Republican Party lawmaker “leaked” the story.
Rep. Mike Turner, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said Wednesday that the Country faces a “serious threat to national security.”.
A few hours later, US military officials told the New York Times Russia is developing a nuclear antisatellite weapon for space. Sources interviewed by Portal also confirmed that the threat was related to space operations involving Russia and warned its allies in Europe that it could pose an international threat.
According to authorities interviewed by the North American newspaper, The weapon was still in the development phase and Russia had not yet launched it into orbit. Therefore, despite the information indicating a “serious threat to U.S. national security,” the sources said it was not an urgent threat to the country, its allies in Europe or Ukraine.
In a statement, Mike Turner said the Intelligence Committee had made the information available to all members of the US Congress. The congressman also called on Joe Biden to lift the confidentiality of information related to the threat.
“I call on President Biden to declassify all information related to this threat so that Congress, the administration and our allies can openly discuss the actions needed to respond to this threat,” Turner said.
Mike Turner and his office did not provide further details about the threat.
Two sources interviewed by Portal said this The threat is related to Russia and space operations and that the matter is considered strictly confidential, without disclosing further details.
Following Turner's statement, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said a meeting of the country's top intelligence lawmakers was scheduled for this Thursday (15) to discuss the issue.
“I'm a little surprised that Turner publicly announced this threat today, ahead of an already scheduled meeting where I will sit with him and our intelligence and defense experts tomorrow,” the adviser said.
2 of 2 Jake Sullivan, National Security Adviser of the White House, announced in a press conference this Wednesday (14) that he will meet with US intelligence officials. Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Portal White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan announced in a press conference this Wednesday (14) that he will meet with US intelligence officials. — Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Portal
Sullivan also did not provide any further details about the threat.
Senators Mark Warner and Marco Rubio, the Democratic chairman and Republican vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, issued a joint statement saying there was no reason to panic and that the committee was aware of the intelligence in question and the matter observe closely.
“We continue to take this matter seriously and are discussing an appropriate response with the government. “In the meantime, we must be cautious about potentially disclosing sources and methods that could be critical to preserving diverse options for U.S. action,” they said in the statement.
According to a source interviewed by Portal, Warner and Rubio were informed of the threat two weeks ago. The source also said that the issue had something to do with a security spending bill being considered in the US Congress, but there was no direct connection between them.
The Biden administration has stepped up criticism of House Republicans over the possibility of blocking a Senatepassed $95 billion bill that would provide aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Proponents of the bill argue that one of the main reasons the US supports the government in Kiev is to counter threats from Russia that go beyond Ukraine.