(Washington) The United States on Thursday accused Russia of testing a weapon that could be used to destroy satellites in space, worrying about a “real, serious and growing” threat.
Posted on 23 July 2020 at 21 h 17
France Media Agency
The US Space Command “has evidence” that Moscow “conducted a non-destructive test of an anti-satellite weapon from space” on 15 July, he said in a statement.
“Last week's test is yet another example that the threats against space facilities of the United States and its allies are real, serious and growing,” continued Space Command.
“This is unacceptable,” tweeted US disarmament negotiator Marshall Billingslea, adding that it was a “serious issue” that would be discussed next week in Vienna during talks to replace the New Start bilateral treaty on the limitation of the number of nuclear warheads.
The system used for last week's test is the same one that Space Command expressed concern about earlier this year, when Russia maneuvered near a US government satellite, said General Jay Raymond, who heads the US Space Force.
“This is further proof of Russia's constant efforts to develop and test systems from space, in accordance with Kremlin military doctrine to use weapons that hold the facilities of the United States and their allies under threat, ”continued the general, quoted in the press release.
“This event highlights Russia's hypocritical plea on gun control in space,” added Christopher Ford, a senior official in the state department in charge of arms control.
