On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow has no plans of deploying nuclear weapons in space and further claimed that the country's space capabilities are similar to those of the United States.
This statement follows the White House's confirmation last week of Russia having obtained "troubling" anti-satellite weapons capability, although the weapon is not operational yet.
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby reminded the public that such a capability would violate the International Outer Space Treaty. Still, he declined to comment on whether the weapon is believed to be nuclear-capable.
Putin's statement follows the White House confirmation last week that Russia has obtained a "troubling" anti-satellite weapon capability, although such a weapon is not operational yet.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby said it would violate the international Outer Space Treaty but declined to comment on whether the weapon is nuclear-capable.
The Outer Space Treaty
The Outer Space Treaty is formally known as the Treaty on Principles, Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies. (Try saying that three times fast.)
It was originally negotiated and drafted under the United Nations and signed by the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union, as well as all major space-faring nations.
More than 130 countries would eventually sign it. The treaty prohibits the "deployment of nuclear weapons or any other kind of weapons of mass destruction in orbit or the stationing of weapons in outer space in any other manner."
Putin's Statement
"Our position is quite clear and transparent: we have always been and remain categorically opposed to the deployment of nuclear weapons in space," Putin said. "Just the opposite, we are urging everyone to adhere to all the agreements that exist in this sphere." Putin noted that Russia has only developed space capabilities that "other nations, including the U.S. have."
"And they know it," he added."We haven't deployed any nuclear weapons in space or any elements of them to use against satellites or to create fields where satellites can't work efficiently," Shoigu said.
"The U.S. and the West, for one thing, are calling for Russia's strategic defeat, while, on the other hand, they would like to have a dialogue on strategic stability, pretending that those things aren't connected," he said. "It won't work."
