National Security and Space Warfare

U.S. Space Command chief Gen. Stephen Whiting recently warned that Russia may be developing a space-based anti-satellite weapon with a nuclear element, a step U.S. officials say would directly challenge American and allied space assets and international law. The warning, reported by U.S. outlets, says Moscow's program appears aimed at countering U.S. space dominance — particularly targeting large constellations such as Starlink that have supported Ukraine — and has prompted direct U.S. diplomatic warnings to Russia. Such a deployment would contravene Article IV of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which bars placing nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in Earth orbit.