Russia's hypocrisy and double standards on nuclear weapons in space

Weeks after blocking a United Nations Security Council resolution to ban nuclear weapons in space, Russia has likely launched a weapon into low Earth orbit capable of inspecting and attacking other satellites, to track its dangerous behavior in space.

According to U.S. Space Command, the May 16 launch included COSMO 2576, a type of Russian military “inspector” spacecraft that U.S. officials say exhibits reckless space behavior. Reuters reported.

Days later, on May 20, the UN Security Council rejected a Russian-backed resolution to ban weapons in space, intended to rival that backed by the United States and Japan, and to which the Kremlin had vetoed. According to some Council members, the language presented “was simply intended to distract the world's attention from Russia's true intention: to militarize space.” P.A. reported.

“They show no intention of reaching an agreement with the West for the good of humanity,” said Jorge Serrano, a member of the advisory team of the Intelligence Commission of the Peruvian Congress. Dialogue. “This is an unfortunate and dangerous position, which could trigger a new source of conflict with all the implications that entails. »

“Russia has demonstrated dangerous nuclear rhetoric, failing to meet its arms control obligations,” said US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield. “He avoids any serious discussion of arms control or risk reduction and has repeatedly supported dangerous proliferators.”

Nuclear space weapon

On February 20, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow did not intend to deploy nuclear weapons in space, a statement that followed confirmation by the White House that Russia had developed a nuclear weapons capability. anti-satellite weaponry is worrying, although it is not yet operational. P.A. reported.

According to sources close to U.S. intelligence regarding the weapon, Russia is attempting to develop a space nuclear weapon capable of generating a massive energy wave when detonated, which could cripple vital communications satellites on the planet. CNN reported.

This type of weapon, known to military space experts as a nuclear electromagnetic pulse (EMP), would generate a pulse of electromagnetic energy and highly charged particles that would disrupt other satellites in space. CNN reported.

“While there is no solid confirmation, simple logic suggests that Russia, given its advanced nuclear capability, could develop anti-satellite weapons, with the potential to destroy infrastructure in space such as satellites strategic, thus posing a real threat,” Serrano said.

While the military relies heavily on satellites for surveillance, navigation at sea, communications, and weapons launch, among other uses, civilians also rely excessively on satellites, which are used for a wide variety of everyday functions. From GPS for transportation and food delivery services to weather forecasting, precision agriculture and financial transactions, satellites are an integral part of everyday life. BBC reported.

Russia and China have quickly deployed satellites into orbit with new, sometimes unknown, capabilities capable of disabling, degrading or disrupting other countries' spacecraft, according to an American magazine. Space reported, adding that Chinese satellites have been observed pulling other spacecraft into “graveyard orbits.”

Addressing Russia's veto of the UN resolution to ban nuclear weapons in space, Serrano stressed that while the focus was on Russia, China's decision to abstain during the vote highlighted the alliance between the two countries. “This alliance extends to other countries, such as Iran, North Korea, Bolivia, Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, forming an important geopolitical axis,” Serrano said, adding: “Russia n “I'm not alone.”