The United States has confirmed that it currently has weapons stationed in space, a disclosure that has drawn swift pushback from China and Russia. Officials from both countries urged Washington to avoid militarizing orbital space, warning that doing so risks transforming the region above Earth into an active battlefield.
Space has long been a strategic arena for major powers, historically used for communications, navigation, and reconnaissance satellites rather than direct weaponry. The US acknowledgment marks a notable shift, signaling that orbital assets may now include offensive or defensive military hardware, not just surveillance tools.
China and Russia, both of which have invested heavily in their own space and satellite programs, framed their response as a call for restraint and international cooperation. They emphasized that keeping outer space free of weapons benefits global security and prevents a costly and dangerous arms race beyond the atmosphere.
The exchange underscores growing tensions among the world’s major military powers over the future use of space, an environment increasingly seen as critical to national defense, telecommunications, and even everyday technologies like GPS. As countries expand their capabilities beyond Earth’s atmosphere, questions about accountability, transparency, and international law in orbit are likely to intensify.
For the full report, read the original article at jornada.com.mx.
Source: EU informa que tiene armas desplegadas en el espacio; China y Rusia llaman a no convertir la órbita en un "campo de batalla" (jornada.com.mx). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: DARPA.