Own atmosphere: why Russia and China are named the main threats in the new American doctrine of space defense

Russia and China pose the main threat to US national interests in outer space, turning it into an arena of confrontation. This is stated in the new Space Defense Strategy presented by the Pentagon.

“In particular, China and Russia pose the greatest strategic threat in connection with their development, testing and deployment of anti-space potential, as well as the corresponding military doctrine on the use of this potential during the conflict in outer space. China and Russia use space as a weapon to reduce the military effectiveness of the United States and its allies, as well as challenge our freedom of action in outer space, ”the text of the strategy published on the Pentagon website says. 

Pentagon chief Mark Esper, commenting on the publication of the new doctrine, said US opponents had turned space into a warfare area, and Washington should make changes to its policies and strategies accordingly.

The goal of the United States is declared to provide a comprehensive military advantage in outer space. The American Space Command plans to create a kind of “strategic environment” in near-Earth space, which will include the integration of space into national, joint and combined operations, cooperation with allies, partners, industry and other US government departments and agencies. 

It is noted that Washington regards outer space as a new arena of confrontation between the "great powers." 

“The rivalry between the great powers determines the strategic environment. Space is both a source of national power, prosperity and prestige, as well as their vehicle. Thus, the space sector has again become the main arena for US rivalry with other great powers, mainly China and Russia, ”the document says. 

Space needed 

Recall that the administration of Donald Trump over the past few years has been actively building up efforts to militarize space. So, in 2019, by the decree of the President of the United States, the Space Development Agency (SDA) and the new, sixth type of the US Armed Forces - Space Forces were created. In August 2019, the SPACECOM Space Command began operations, the first combat command formed since 2009. The head of the US Space Force and SPACECOM is General John Raymond.

Raymond himself in April 2020 during a conference at the Mitchell Institute (an organization working in the field of aviation and aerospace industry) said that he was concerned about the ability of the United States to act quickly and forestall the threat in outer space.

• Pentagon
• AFP

“Obviously, other countries are catching up with us,” Raymond said during a videoconference organized by the Mitchell Institute. 

The Pentagon’s concern over the successes of other countries, particularly Russia and China, in the space sphere is also reflected in the new doctrine. It indicates that Chinese and Russian strategic intentions and capabilities constitute an urgent and continuing threat to the ability of the US defense department to achieve the desired conditions in space.  

“China and Russia analyzed the US dependence on space and developed doctrine, organizations, and opportunities specifically designed to challenge or deny the US access and operations in this environment. At the same time, their use of space is expanding significantly, ”the Pentagon’s new defense doctrine says.

The United States finally approved the course towards the militarization of outer space, said military expert Yuri Knutov. 

“For this, Cosmic forces were created, a program for the colonization of the Moon was put forward, now Starlink satellites are launched into orbit, which will allow the US Army from anywhere in the world to communicate directly with the Pentagon and military bases. A program is also being prepared to bring nuclear weapons to near-Earth space in order to test the reaction of world leaders to this, ”the expert said in an interview with RT.  

Yuri Knutov noted that the United States has returned to the implementation of President Ronald Reagan's Star Wars program (also known as the Strategic Defense Initiative or SDI), as now the necessary technologies are emerging for this. 

According to the expert, the United States is now relying on the militarization of space, since it is quite far behind Russia and China in the development of hypersonic weapons.

“Washington hopes that in outer space it will be possible to intercept rockets during launch, and also to keep Russian military facilities under constant threat of a possible strike,” the expert noted. 

Statements that Russia and China may threaten the United States are a distraction that should mask Washington’s true plans for the militarization of outer space, Yuri Knutov said.

Arms race 

Experts note that the Pentagon has long been pursuing an active policy on the militarization of outer space.   

“DARPA and RAND agencies have previously indicated that if the United States can make a breakthrough in space exploration, they will dominate the world. Therefore, the Pentagon adopted an appropriate program, which provides for the arrangement of satellite constellations in orbit, ”said military expert Alexei Leonkov in an interview with RT. 

In addition to the tasks of providing communication channels, global positioning and reconnaissance, in the future such orbital platforms will also be able to conduct combat operations in space, the expert explained.  

“On such satellites, both kinetic weapons and electronic warfare systems can be placed. Kinetic weapons will fight against ballistic missiles, hypersonic blocks, strike from orbit. In turn, the electronic warfare systems will have to immobilize the enemy’s satellite constellations, ”explained Alexei Leonkov. 

The purpose of such systems can be Russian and Chinese objects and complexes, the expert said.  

• Military satellite
• Gettyimages.ru
• © Jose Luis Stephens / EyeEm

“The United States in the national defense doctrine designated Russia and China as first-order enemies, therefore, first of all, it will be directed against them,” said Alexei Leonkov.  

Over the past few years, Russia has repeatedly warned the United States against turning space into a militarized zone and theater of operations. In December 2019, the UN General Assembly adopted, by a majority vote, the three resolutions proposed by Russia on disarmament in space. 

On February 25, speaking at a conference on disarmament, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow was calling on Western countries to work out measures that would prevent such a scenario.

The Russian diplomat then noted that “the plans of the United States, France, and the North Atlantic Alliance as a whole to take weapons into space are becoming more and more real, it’s not too late to work out generally acceptable measures that can prevent a military confrontation in outer space.”  

The adoption of such doctrines by the United States is now laying the foundation for the justification of its own actions to militarize outer space, says Alexei Leonkov.

“The information that Russia and China are going to take space is sucked out of a finger. These countries have repeatedly stated to the United States that the militarization of outer space is not their priority. However, it is beneficial for Washington to cover up its plans with a threat from Moscow and Beijing, ”the expert concluded.