US intelligence shows that Russia is discussing the possibility of basing a nuclear weapon in space, people familiar with the matter said, a finding that emerged after a top US representative publicly warned of an unspecified national-security threat.
The threat cited by US intelligence is not yet an active one and Russia has not deployed a nuclear weapon into space, according to the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
While the conclusions are significant and US officials are taking the matter seriously, there is no immediate cause for public alarm, they said.
Photo: EPA-EFE
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said he was to meet yesterday with the US House of Representatives contingent of the so-called “Gang of Eight” congressional leaders.
The meeting was scheduled before House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner on Wednesday issued a public statement.
Turner, an Ohio Republican, called on US President Joe Biden to declassify “all information relating to this threat.”
Turner did not offer further details about the nature of the threat.
Turner’s decision to go public with the issue without fully describing it caused concern in Washington. The episode comes at a time when wars in Ukraine, Israel and Gaza are weighing heavily on the US.
Sullivan declined to respond to Turner’s characterization of the national security matter.
“I’m not in a position to say anything further today,” he said.
ABC News and the New York Times reported earlier that Russia was considering putting a nuclear weapon in space.
US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson sought to ease fears that Americans could face imminent danger.
Johnson nonetheless told reporters he would “press the administration to take appropriate action” in the meeting with Sullivan.
Sullivan on Wednesday told reporters at the White House he had reached out to the Gang of Eight to set a meeting — which he described a “highly unusual” move.
“That’s been on the books, so I am a bit surprised that Congressman Turner came out publicly today,” Sullivan said at the White House. “That’s his choice to do that. All I can tell you is I’m focused on going to see him.”
US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he hoped more information on the classified matter would be made public soon.
Turner said the committee had provided its members with all available material.
The committee’s top Democrat, US Representative Jim Himes, also urged calm.
“People should not panic,” Himes said, describing the matter as a long-standing, albeit serious issue.
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