--- title: "US Gov Warns Putin Not to Launch Nuclear Anti-Satellite Weapon" description: "Stop Sign US officials are warning Russia to hold back on launching its nuclear-loaded anti-satellite weapon, The Wall Street Journal reports. Per the report, the US is arguing that the nuclear-equipped spacecraft would violate the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, which clearly states that nations \"shall not place nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass […]" date: "2024-02-23" modified: "2024-02-23" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/us-putin-launch-nuclear-satellite-weapon" categories: - "Off-World" - "Space" tags: - "anti-satellite" - "putin" - "Russia" - "the digest" --- # US Gov Warns Putin Not to Launch Nuclear Anti-Satellite Weapon ![The Wall Street Journal reports that US officials are warning Putin to refrain from launching Russia's nuclear anti-satellite weapon.]() *\Image: Contributor via Getty / Futurism\* ## Stop Sign US officials are warning Russia to hold back on launching its allegedly nuclear-powered anti-satellite weapon, *[The Wall Street Journal ]()*[reports](). Per the report, the US is arguing that the [controversial spacecraft]() would violate the [Outer Space Treaty of 1967](), which clearly states that nations "shall not place nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in orbit or on celestial bodies or station them in outer space in any other manner." The Russian [weapon](), believed to be designed to destroy satellites by [emitting massive energy waves](), would certainly check that box. Officials have also reportedly told Moscow that the mysterious device would threaten America's national security interests. Considering that the modern world is [effectively propped up]() by satellite technology, that feels about right. According to the *WSJ,* the warnings come as President Biden looks to [rally international opposition]() to the weapon among allies and fellow G-7 nations. Diplomatic efforts are said to include approaching Russia-allied nations India and China — a rare opportunity, it seems, for anti-Russia cooperation between the US and China. "There are so few spaces of possible strategic alignment for the US and China at Russia's expense," one unnamed US official told the *WSJ*. "This is one of them." ## Dial M for Moscow According to the *WSJ*, an unnamed US official claimed that CIA Director William Burns "reached out" to Russian intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin, though it's unclear what any discussions fully entailed. And though most details about the weapon remain classified, lawmakers including Republican Mike Turner — who first alerted the public to a possible national security threat last week in a [cryptic demand]() that Biden declassify information about a possibly "destabilizing foreign military capacity" — seem overall pleased with the Biden administration's plan to halt any space weapon launches. "We all came away with a very strong impression that the administration is taking this very seriously," Turner, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, told the *WSJ* following a classified briefing with top US intelligence figures, "and that the administration has a plan in place." Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has [continued to deny]() that the weapon exists at all. "We not only call for the observance of the existing agreements that we have in this area," Putin recently told Russian state media in response to the US allegations, [as translated by *The New York Times*](), "but we have proposed many times to strengthen these joint efforts." If one thing's for sure, it's that tensions between Washington and Moscow are continuing to heat up — and considering that this is an election year, it's a situation well worth paying close attention to. **More on the Russian anti-satellite spacecraft:** [*Russia May Be Launching Nuclear Space Weapon Soon, Officials Warn*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()