Russia seeks new nuclear capabilities in space, US intelligence shows

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The US has shared intelligence with Congress and European allies about a new Russian nuclear capability that could be used in space, according to people familiar with the matter.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Republican chair of the House Intelligence Committee called on the White House to declassify information about a “serious national security threat”, and emailed members of Congress about a “destabilising foreign military capability”, which he did not detail. That sent Washington into a frenzy in an effort to figure out more information.

The intelligence is about Russian efforts to develop a space-based anti-satellite nuclear weapon, according to people familiar with the matter. The details of the threat were first reported by The New York Times.

The weapon would not be used to attack humans and was not yet active, the people said. The matter is serious but not an immediate threat, they said.

President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, refused to shed light on the undisclosed threat on Wednesday, which US media reports had earlier linked to Russia and space.

“Today the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence has made available to all members of Congress information concerning a serious national security threat,” congressman Mike Turner of Ohio said in the statement.

“I am requesting that President Biden declassify all information relating to this threat so that Congress, the administration and our allies can openly discuss the actions necessary to respond to this threat.”

Turner also instructed fellow members of Congress to access details about the threat in a classified setting. ABC News reported that the threat related to a Russian attempt to put a nuclear weapon in space.

Speaking after Turner’s statement, Sullivan said he was planning to meet with a group of senior members of Congress known as the “Gang of Eight” on Thursday to brief them about the matter, but gave no details.

“I am a bit surprised that congressman Turner came out publicly today in advance of a meeting on the books for me to go sit with him alongside our intelligence and defence professionals tomorrow,” Sullivan said.

The comments from Turner come amid a mounting focus in Washington on foreign conflicts, with the White House trying to secure new funding for Ukraine in its war against Russia, over the opposition of House Republicans.

Asked whether Americans should be alarmed about Turner’s warning, Sullivan said the administration was taking steps to protect them from a range of national security threats.

“I am confident that President Biden in the decisions that he is taking is going to ensure the security of the American people,” he said. “We believe that we can and will and are protecting the national security of the United States and the American people.”

Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said “people should not panic”, but added that while Turner was “right to highlight this issue” it was too sensitive to publicly discuss.

“I don’t want people thinking that Martians are landing or that your Wednesday is going to be ruined. But it is something that the Congress and the administration does need to address in the medium to long run,” he said.