US admits: We deployed weapons in space
US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink confirmed for the first time that the United States has weapons stationed in space, in orbit around Earth, capable of defending its forces. The disclosure was made at the annual Air and Space Forces Association conference. China responded sharply, calling on the US to stop its military buildup in space.
US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink confirmed for the first time that the United States has weapons stationed in space. The disclosure was made during remarks at the annual Air and Space Forces Association conference. Meink did not specify how many such weapons are in orbit around Earth, or how long they have been deployed there. According to him, the existence of these systems is intended to protect joint forces from hostile actions by adversaries, and it also has importance in terms of deterrence. The background to the disclosure is US concern that Russia and China are transferring satellite information to Iran. US President Donald Trump has a strong interest in military capabilities in space; during his first term, he established the US Space Force and promoted the space-based missile defense system "Golden Dome." China responded sharply: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that China opposes any arms race in outer space or any attempt to turn it into a war zone, and called on the US to stop expanding its military buildup in space.