Russian authorities believe that space should remain free from any weapons and are looking toward international solidarity around this issue, stated Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, commenting on reports that the United States has deployed weapons in orbit for space-domain control. The previous day, US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink announced that the US has deployed weapons in space. Experts speaking to Kommersant estimate that this announcement officially marks the start of a space arms race.
"Significant rhetorical shift" from Washington
Specialized American outlet Defense One characterized the Pentagon official's statements as a "significant rhetorical shift." For the first time, the United States openly took a step indicating the deployment of objects with offensive capabilities into orbit around Earth.
The "satellite weapons" worrying Russia
Dmitry Stefanovich, a researcher at the Center for International Security at the Primakov Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IMEMO), told Kommersant that the system could be "some variant of an inspector satellite, specifically designed to counter other countries' space systems rather than merely monitoring them." As he explained, such a satellite could possess both kinetic interception capabilities and equipment for non-destructive interference. "It could involve jamming, blinding sensors, and other hostile actions, including the potential takeover of another spacecraft," he noted. "We are now rapidly crossing the threshold toward the open and explicit deployment of actual orbital weapons," he added.
Russia has considered the scenario likely for years
According to him, the United States has been discussing "space weapons" and "orbital warfare" for several years. "I believe Russia has long operated under the assumption that the emergence of weapons in space is a realistic prospect," he pointed out. Stefanovich assessed that this new level of transparency and publicity may influence the review of Russian initiatives aimed at preventing a space weapons race. "In reality, not just the window but even the narrow margin for preserving the principle of 'no first placement of weapons in space,' pursuant to our numerous bilateral statements, is rapidly narrowing," he argued.
The blocking of the Russo-Chinese initiative
Since 2008, Russia and China have been promoting in various international fora the adoption of a Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space. However, according to Kommersant, the stance of Western countries has so far prevented reaching a consensus on this initiative, resulting in its failure to advance toward formal international adoption.
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