Russia seeks new nuclear capabilities in space, US intelligence shows

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free

Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

The US has shared intelligence with Congress and European allies about a new Russian nuclear capability that could be used in space, according to people familiar with the matter.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Republican chair of the House Intelligence Committee called on the White House to declassify information about a “serious national security threat”, and emailed members of Congress about a “destabilising foreign military capability”, which he did not detail. That sent Washington into a frenzy in an effort to figure out more information.

The intelligence is about Russian efforts to develop a space-based anti-satellite nuclear weapon, according to people familiar with the matter. The details of the threat were first reported by The New York Times.

The weapon would not be used to attack humans and was not yet active, the people said. The matter is serious but not an immediate threat, they said.

President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, refused to shed light on the undisclosed threat on Wednesday, which US media reports had earlier linked to Russia and space.

“Today the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence has made available to all members of Congress information concerning a serious national security threat,” congressman Mike Turner of Ohio said in the statement.

“I am requesting that President Biden declassify all information relating to this threat so that Congress, the administration and our allies can openly discuss the actions necessary to respond to this threat.”

Turner also instructed fellow members of Congress to access details about the threat in a classified setting. ABC News reported that the threat related to a Russian attempt to put a nuclear weapon in space.

Speaking after Turner’s statement, Sullivan said he was planning to meet with a group of senior members of Congress known as…