15-2-2024 (MOSCOW) Discussions within Russian circles regarding the potential deployment of a nuclear weapon in space have caught the attention of United States intelligence, according to sources familiar with the matter. The revelation surfaced following a public warning from a top House Republican regarding an unspecified national security threat.
As of now, the perceived threat highlighted by US intelligence remains inactive, with no confirmed deployment of a nuclear weapon into space by Russia, according to individuals speaking on condition of anonymity. While the findings are deemed significant and US officials are treating the matter seriously, there is no immediate cause for public alarm, the sources emphasised.
US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, announced plans to convene on Thursday with the US House contingent of the ‘Gang of Eight’ congressional leaders, a meeting scheduled prior to House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner’s cryptic statement on Wednesday.
Turner, an Ohio Republican, called upon President Joe Biden to declassify “all information relating to this threat,” refraining from disclosing further details about its nature.
The decision by Turner to publicly address the issue, without elaboration, has stirred concern in Washington, particularly amidst ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Israel, and Gaza weighing heavily on the US.
Sullivan refrained from specifying the agenda of Thursday’s meeting or addressing Turner’s characterization of the national security concern. “I’m not in a position to say anything further today,” he stated.
Earlier reports from ABC News and the New York Times hinted at Russia’s contemplation of placing a nuclear weapon in space, prompting House Speaker Mike Johnson to reassure Americans against immediate peril while expressing intentions to press the administration for appropriate action during the meeting with Sullivan.
Sullivan, addressing reporters at the White House, noted the “highly unusual” nature of proactively reaching out to the Gang of Eight for a meeting, expressing surprise at Turner’s public statement. He affirmed the scheduled meeting with the four House members of the group on Thursday.
Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Representative Jim Himes of Connecticut urged calm, emphasising the need for more information on the classified matter to be disclosed.
On the international front, Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a broadcast interview, expressed preference for President Biden over former President Donald Trump but asserted willingness to collaborate with any US leader. Putin’s remarks come amid heightened tensions between the US and Russia, with relations strained over various geopolitical issues, including Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and NATO’s expansion.
Putin’s comments on the 2024 US election race, in which Biden and Trump are expected to vie for presidency again, were perceived as contentious, particularly against the backdrop of US-Russia relations at their lowest point in decades.
