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Politics|U.S. Fears Russia Might Put a Nuclear Weapon in Space

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U.S. FEARS RUSSIA MIGHT PUT A NUCLEAR WEAPON IN SPACE

American spy agencies are divided on whether Moscow would go so far, but the
concern is urgent enough that Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has asked
China and India to try to talk Russia down.

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Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken raised concerns about developments in
Russia’s nuclear capability at the Munich Security Conference this
weekend.Credit...Thomas Kienzle/Pool, via Associated Press


By David E. Sanger and Julian E. Barnes

David E. Sanger reported from Munich, and Julian E. Barnes from Washington.

Feb. 17, 2024Updated 6:02 p.m. ET
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When Russia conducted a series of secret military satellite launches around the
time of its invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, American intelligence officials
began delving into the mystery of what, exactly, the Russians were doing.

Later, spy agencies discovered Russia was working on a new kind of space-based
weapon that could threaten the thousands of satellites that keep the world
connected.

In recent weeks, a new warning has circulated from America’s spy agencies:
Another launch may be in the works, and the question is whether Russia plans to
use it to put a real nuclear weapon into space — a violation of a
half-century-old treaty. The agencies are divided on the likelihood that
President Vladimir V. Putin would go so far, but nonetheless the intelligence is
an urgent concern to the Biden administration.

Even if Russia does place a nuclear weapon in orbit, U.S. officials are in
agreement in their assessment that the weapon would not be detonated. Instead,
it would lurk as a time bomb in low orbit, a reminder from Mr. Putin that if he
was pressed too hard with sanctions, or military opposition to his ambitions in
Ukraine or beyond, he could destroy economies without targeting humans on earth.



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Despite the uncertainties, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken raised the
possibility of the Russian nuclear move with his Chinese and Indian counterparts
on Friday and Saturday on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

Mr. Blinken’s message was blunt: Any nuclear detonation in space would take out
not only American satellites but also those in Beijing and New Delhi.

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David E. Sanger covers the Biden administration and national security. He has
been a Times journalist for more than four decades and has written several books
on challenges to American national security. More about David E. Sanger

Julian E. Barnes covers the U.S. intelligence agencies and international
security matters for The Times. He has written about security issues for more
than two decades. More about Julian E. Barnes

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