Is Moscow preparing the next Star Wars? The United States has shared new intelligence with Congress and its European allies regarding Russia's nuclear capabilities that could pose an international threat, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday (February 14th).
These new capabilities, linked to Russia's attempts to develop a space weapon, do not pose an urgent threat to the United States, the source said.
The information came to light after the chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence, Republican Mike Turner, issued an unusual and cryptic statement on Wednesday warning of a "serious threat to national security."
Sources later indicated that this warning concerned Russia's satellite space capabilities.
One of the sources said the issue was serious, but not related to active capacity nor should it cause panic.
“We have the situation in hand”
“I ask President Biden to 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,” Mike Turner said in his statement, without providing further details. details.
The New York Times earlier reported that the new intelligence was linked to Russia's tests to develop an anti-satellite nuclear weapon in space.
ABC News, for its part, reported that the intelligence related to such a capability. Current and former officials have said the nuclear weapon is not in orbit.
Also read “Tactical” nuclear power: the mirage of less devastating bombs
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Republican Mike Johnson, told reporters there was no cause for public concern. “We have the situation in hand.”
“We are working on it and there is no cause for alarm,” he said.
US President Joe Biden has been urging Congress for months to speed up aid to Ukraine.
The Senate adopted on Tuesday an aid program of 95 billion dollars (88.54 billion euros) for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, but this bill risks being rejected in the House representatives, with a Republican majority.
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