Russia and China have called for weapons to be kept out of space following the United States’ confirmation that it has deployed “on-orbit space control weapons” for the first time.
The development has raised concerns from Moscow and Beijing, with both countries urging Washington against further militarisation of outer space.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that Russia believed space should remain free of weapons and called for stronger international efforts towards the complete demilitarisation of the space domain.
“We believe that space must be free of any weapon,” Peskov told reporters.
He added that Russia was counting on wider international cooperation to continue efforts aimed at preventing the deployment of weapons in space.
China, which is an ally of Russia, also criticised the US move and called on Washington to stop preparations for what it described as war in outer space.
The reactions followed confirmation from the United States on Monday that it had deployed space-based weapons capable of countering hostile actions against American forces.
US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said the capabilities were designed to protect US forces from potential attacks by adversaries.
A US Space Force spokesperson said the weapons formed part of the country’s broader space-control mission, which involves both offensive and defensive capabilities.
According to the spokesperson, space control involves the use of kinetic and non-kinetic means to affect an adversary’s capabilities and protect US interests in space.
The US Space Force, however, did not disclose specific details about the weapons that had been deployed.
The development comes against the backdrop of growing international concerns over the militarisation of outer space and the potential consequences of an arms race beyond Earth.
The 1967 Outer Space Treaty, to which the United States, Russia and China are parties, prohibits the placement of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in orbit around the Earth.
However, the treaty does not impose a blanket prohibition on military activities or conventional weapons in space.
AFP
