The Russian Foreign Ministry warned that U.S. military plans for 'dominance in space' could lead to a resumption of the arms race. Donald Trump, the U.S. President, announced this week that he has ordered the military to create a space force. Trump stated, 'America must have dominance in space.' These remarks from Trump have raised concerns in Moscow. Russia currently has its own space force. Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said on Wednesday, June 30, that 'what is most concerning about this news is the clear acknowledgment that the aim of this action is dominance in space.' Zakharova, speaking to reporters in Samara, added, 'The increase in military capabilities in space, especially after the emergence of weapons there, has a destabilizing effect on strategic stability and international security.' She also stated that Russia's space force has a 'purely defensive' aspect. Meanwhile, Viktor Bondarev, head of the Security and Defense Committee of the Federation Council of Russia (the Senate), reacted to Trump's decision by calling the militarization of space a path to disaster and said, 'We must hope that senior American politicians still have a shred of reason and logic.' The head of the Security and Defense Committee clarified, 'However, if the United States withdraws from the 1967 treaty that prohibits the deployment of nuclear weapons in space, then Russia and other countries will respond decisively to maintain global security.' Trump stated on Monday, 'America was first in flight, first on the moon... we do not want China and Russia and other countries to get ahead of us... we will lead by a wide margin.' The U.S. President emphasized, 'Our destiny beyond Earth is not only related to our national identity but also to our national security and is very important for our military.' Trump added that when it comes to defending America, 'merely being present in space is not enough; America must have dominance in space.' The U.S. military budget for 2018 is approximately $700 billion.
Russia: The Establishment of a U.S. Space Force Will Lead to an Arms Race
The Russian Foreign Ministry has warned that the U.S. plans to establish a space force could reignite an arms race. This follows President Trump's assertion that the U.S. must maintain dominance in space, raising concerns from Russia, which already has its own space capabilities. The situation highlights escalating tensions between the U.S. and Russia regarding military capabilities in space.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed concerns over U.S. plans to establish a space force, warning it could lead to an arms race. President Trump emphasized the need for U.S. dominance in space, which has raised alarms in Moscow regarding military escalation.
- Trump announced the creation of a U.S. Space Force to ensure military dominance in space.
- Russia has its own space force and views U.S. actions as a potential threat to international security.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The militarization of space has been a contentious issue, with various countries developing military capabilities in this domain. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibits the deployment of nuclear weapons in space, but tensions are rising over potential violations.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%