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The world heading towards space war?
NATO is concerned that Russia is seeking to place nuclear weapons in space, a development that could threaten thousands of satellites orbiting Earth that are essential for defense as well as people's daily lives.
The alarm was sounded by the alliance's chief, Mark Rutte.
" We are aware of reports that Russia is considering the possibility of deploying nuclear weapons in space. Developing nuclear weapons in space is a way for Russia to improve its capabilities, but this is very worrying ," he stressed.
He added that in recent years, space has become increasingly crowded, dangerous and unpredictable. He said 'we know that competition in space is fierce'.
" Space is also very important for our prevention and defense - just as important as land, sea, air and cyberspace ," Rutte told the Welt newspaper.
If Moscow were to deploy nuclear weapons in space, it could threaten hundreds of satellites, not just those used by Kiev and its allies to defend Ukraine against all-out Russian invasion.
With around 7,000 satellites currently orbiting the planet, " space-based systems directly affect our way of life ," Rutte said. " They ensure, for example, that mobile phones, banking services and weather forecasts work ," he added.
An international treaty preventing an arms race in outer space came into force in 1967, with 114 parties, including Russia, signing it. However, it does not completely rule out military activities in space and, critics argue, may not adequately address the risks posed by modern satellite systems.
" NATO allies are adapting to the challenges in space, including by sharing intelligence and creating national space command centers, but also by developing smaller satellites that are more maneuverable and better protected ," Rutte said. /Politico
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