Rep. Turner: Russian Space Nukes Threaten the World

House Intelligence Chair Mike Turner, R-Ohio, who has been pushing the Biden administration to declassify information on Russia's nuclear anti-satellite program, is planning an address Thursday warning that the situation could become catastrophic if information about the looming threat is not addressed soon.

Turner, speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that the Biden administration must "immediately declassify all known information concerning the status of Russia's nuclear anti-satellite program" and the United States must force compliance to the United Nations Outer Space Treaty, approved in 1966 governing nations' use and exploration of space.

Otherwise, Russia's use of nuclear aggression in space could lead to a dangerous "Day Zero" situation that could threaten communications systems worldwide, Turner warned.

"In order to avoid Day Zero, the Biden administration must immediately declassify all known information concerning the status of Russia's nuclear anti-satellite nuclear program," the congressman said. "Vladimir Putin thrives in secrecy. Putin's plans and weapons programs must be fully disclosed by the administration and understood by the world."

Further, the United States and its NATO allies must join together to declare their resolve to enforce the United Nations' outer space treaty, said Turner.

"I call on the Biden administration to do so," he said. "There are risks in confronting Russia. The Biden administration is incredibly reluctant to take any action that would appear to be escalatory. However, Russia is the esclaratory aggressor. Escalation has already occurred."

But if Russia is permitted to proceed, "This threat would mean that our economic, international security and social systems come to a grinding halt," Turner said. "This would be a catastrophic and devastating attack upon Western economic, and democratic systems. Vladimir Putin knows this — checkmate."

Turner said Thursday that, "Day Zero can be avoided…just as [Nikita] Kruschev could have held the United States hostage with nuclear threats from Cuba, Vladimir Putin will hold the world's space assets hostage to counter attempts to stop him from reassembling the Soviet Union."

According to the congressman, if Russia detonates a nuclear weapon within low Earth orbit, that would destroy satellites used for much of modern society, including stopping global communications for at least a year, including for cellphones, GPS, and more.

Turner, meanwhile, says that the lack of information coming from the Biden administration about the danger is worrisome.

CSIS said its event will feature a discussion on the role of nuclear weapons in U.S. foreign policy and strategy, including the strategic landscape, nuclear modernization, deterrence efforts, and arms control, including how the intelligence community is postured to address such challenges.

Turner issued similar warnings earlier this year, saying that he warned his colleagues of a "serious national security threat" with Russian anti-satellite capabilities and saying he was concerned that the Biden administration was "sleepwalking into an international crisis."

The intelligence committee in February informed all members of Congress about an unspecified "serious national security threat," with White House national security communications adviser John Kirby confirming the threat was related to a Russian anti-satellite capability.