Russia accuses US of attempting to deploy weapons in space

Russia has accused the United States of seeking to place weapons in space, escalating tensions between the two superpowers in the ongoing row over the militarization of outer space. The accusation comes just a day after Washington vetoed a Russian non-proliferation motion at the United Nations.

In a statement, Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, “They have once again demonstrated that their true priorities in the area of outer space are aimed not at keeping space free from weapons of any kind, but at placing weapons in space and turning it into an arena for military confrontation.”

The back-and-forth accusations of weaponizing space have been ongoing, with both countries trading barbs and proposing rival non-proliferation motions at the United Nations. The latest veto by the United States of Russia’s proposal has further strained relations between the two nations.

Despite the tensions, space remains a rare area of cooperation between Russia and the United States. Both countries continue to ferry each other’s crew members to and from the International Space Station, where their astronauts are jointly stationed.

The issue of weaponizing space has become a flashpoint in the broader geopolitical rivalry between Russia and the United States, with both sides accusing each other of aggressive actions in outer space. The latest accusation by Russia underscores the growing concerns about the militarization of space and the potential for a new arms race beyond Earth’s atmosphere.