The White House publicly confirmed on Thursday that Russia has obtained a "troubling" emerging anti-satellite weapon but said it cannot directly cause "physical destruction" on Earth.
White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said U.S. intelligence officials have information that Russia has obtained the capability but that such a weapon is not currently operational. U.S. officials are analyzing the information they have on the emerging technology and have consulted with allies and partners on the matter.
"First this is not an active capability that's been deployed and though Russia's pursuit of this particular capability is troubling, there is no immediate threat to anyone's safety," Kirby said. "We're not talking about a weapon that can be used to attack human beings or cause physical destruction here on Earth."
The White House confirmed its intelligence after a vague warning Wednesday from the Republican head of the House Intelligence Committee, Ohio Rep. Mike Turner, urged the Biden administration to declassify information about what he called a serious national security threat.
Kirby said that the process of reviewing and declassifying information about the Russian capability was underway when Turner "regrettably" released his statement.
"We have been very careful and deliberate about what we decide to declassify downgrade and share with the public," he added.
Russia has downplayed the U.S. concern about the capability.
In Moscow, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the claims about a new Russian military capability as a ruse intended to make the U.S. Congress support aid for Ukraine.
"It's obvious that Washington is trying to force Congress to vote on the aid bill by hook or by crook," Peskov said in remarks carried by Russian news agencies. "Let's see what ruse the White House will use."
Kirby said the capability is space based and would violate the international Outer Space Treaty, which more than 130 countries have signed onto, including Russia. He declined to comment on whether the weapon is nuclear capable. The treaty prohibits the deployment of 鈥渘uclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction鈥 in orbit or 鈥渟tation weapons in outer space in any other manner."
The White House said it would look to engage the Russians directly on the concerns. Even as the White House sought to assure Americans, Kirby acknowledged it was a serious matter.
"I don't want to minimize the potential here for disruption," Kirby said.
White House national security communications adviser John Kirby, accompanied by White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, speaks at a press briefing at the White House in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan was scheduled to brief lawmakers Thursday on Capitol Hill on the Russian threat. After the meeting, Turner said Sullivan spoke to lawmakers about the administration's options in addressing the threat.
鈥淚 think the bottom line is that we all came away with a very strong impression that the administration is taking this very seriously and that the administration has a plan in place,鈥 Turner said. 鈥淲e look forward to supporting them as they go to implement it.鈥
Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, called the threat 鈥減retty standard stuff鈥 in terms of the national security threats that the intelligence panel deals with.
鈥淭his is not a threat for today, tomorrow, next week or next month,鈥 Himes said.
Himes said he respected Turner鈥檚 decision to warn Congress at large about the threat but had expressed concern in advance about taking it public on social media. 鈥淎nd my concern was specific that if we did that, we would be staring into a whole lot of cameras and microphones,鈥 Himes told the reporters and camera crews outside the secure briefing room. 鈥淎nd here we are.鈥
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, who also attended Thursday's briefing with Sullivan, said that lawmakers raised concerns about the threat with the Biden administration last month and requested a meeting with Biden to discuss it. He called Thursday's meeting 鈥渋nformative鈥 and said Sullivan had assured leaders the White House will remain in close contact with lawmakers about the matter.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not a matter that can involve delay,鈥 Johnson said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 something we have to address seriously and on an immediate basis, and we are.鈥
The White House did not hide its frustration with how Turner went about sharing concerns about the threat.
鈥淲e make decisions about how and when to publicly disclose intelligence in a careful deliberate and strategic way, in a way that we choose,鈥 Kirby said.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not going to be knocked off that process, regardless of what, in this particular case has found its way into the public domain,鈥 he added. 鈥淚 can assure you that we will continue to keep members of Congress as well as our international partners and all of you and the American people as fully informed as possible.鈥
White House officials said the U.S. intelligence community has concerns about a broad declassification of the intelligence. The U.S. has been aware of Russia鈥檚 pursuit of anti-satellite capability going back at least months, if not a few years. Biden has been regularly briefed by his national security team on the issue, including on Thursday.
The U.S. has frequently downgraded and unveiled intelligence findings about Moscow鈥檚 plans and operations over the course of its nearly two-year war with Ukraine.
Such efforts have been focused on highlighting plans for Russian misinformation operations or to throw attention on Moscow鈥檚 difficulties in prosecuting its war against Ukraine as well as its coordination with Iran and North Korea to supply it with badly needed weaponry.
Intelligence officials assessed that starting with private engagement on the Russian anti-satellite threat could have been a more effective approach, Kirby said.
鈥淲e agree with that, which is consistent, of course, with the manner in which we have conducted downgrades of information in the past,鈥 Kirby said. 鈥淭his administration has put a lot of focus on doing that in a strategic way, a deliberate way. And in particular, when it comes to Russia.鈥
Some far-right members of Congress and allies of former President Donald Trump claimed that information about the Russian threat only surfaced to help President Joe Biden win passage of additional funding for Ukraine's war effort, as well as funding for Israel and Taiwan. A $95 billion package that includes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan is stalled in the Republican-controlled House.
鈥淒oes anyone really believe that there is a serious Russian threat that magically leaks about 30 seconds after the Speaker said they鈥檙e not going to take up funding another $60 billion in Ukraine?鈥 said Donald Trump Jr., the president's son, in a social media post. 鈥淚s anyone stupid enough to buy this at this point? Textbook deep state propaganda!鈥
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., another Trump ally, suggested the government was leaking the intelligence 鈥渋n order to pressure Congress to make certain votes, protect it鈥檚 own power to spy on it鈥檚 own citizens.鈥
Other lawmakers, however, including some on the House Intelligence Committee, defended Turner鈥檚 handling of the situation. The panel had voted earlier in the week to make the information available to lawmakers.
鈥淭he public has an interest in knowing,鈥 said Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, a Navy veteran who serves on the intelligence panel.
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Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago. The former Hedley frontman had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.
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