Key facts
- Russia believes a treaty can still prevent an arms race in space.
- The US acknowledged it operates weapons in Earth's orbit.
- China urges the US to halt its military build-up in outer space.
- Russia called on the US and other nations to set aside skepticism about a treaty to outlaw offensive weapons in space.
- Chinese state media warned the US move risks fueling a global space arms race.
Russia and China have separately voiced concerns over the United States' acknowledgment of operating weapons in Earth's orbit, warning that such actions could escalate into a global arms race.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated on Wednesday that there is still time to prevent an arms race in space by establishing a legally-binding international treaty to outlaw the deployment of offensive weapons. He urged the United States and other nations to set aside their skepticism regarding such a treaty. Ryabkov commented after the US confirmed that the Pentagon is operating weapons in orbit, a development he said had not come as a surprise to Moscow, which has long advocated for a treaty to rule out the use or threat of force in space.
US Space Force chief Douglas Schiess had previously said that enlisted members of his military branch "operate on-orbit weapons that can defend the Joint Force against space-enabled attacks." China has also urged the US to halt its military build-up in outer space, with Chinese state media warning that Washington's actions risk fueling a global space arms race. Chinese military analyst Song Zhongping told the Global Times that the US acknowledgment signifies a shift from protecting space assets to directly deploying weapons in orbit, potentially compelling other countries to respond.