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Russia accuses 'aggressive' US of starting arms race in space

20 June 2020, MVT 20:54
(FILES) In this file photo taken on May 15, 2020, US Space Force Senior Enlisted Advisor CMSgt Roger Towberman, with US President Donald Trump, presents the US Space Force Flag in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC. - The US wants to prevent China and Russia from taking control of space and will look to allies for help, according to a new "Defense Space Strategy" unveiled by the Pentagon on June 17, 2020. The strategy document was the first since Trump announced the creation of the new Space Force military arm in December. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP)
20 June 2020, MVT 20:54

Russia on Friday said the new space strategy unveiled by the US this week was "aggressive," accusing Washington of seeing space as a place to wage war.

"The document confirms the agressive course by Washington in the space sphere," Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement.

"Space is seen by the US side as an arena for warfare," it said, calling this a "destructive" approach which "provokes an arms race in space".

"Russia holds the diametrically opposing position, giving priority to using and studying space only for peaceful goals," it said.

Unveiled by the Pentagon on Wednesday, the strategy document was the first since President Donald Trump announced the creation of the new Space Force military arm in December.

The Pentagon strategy stressed that the US would strive to maintain superiority in space, in particular protecting GPS satellites on which the military as well as the emergency services, transport and even financial services depend.

"China and Russia present the greatest strategic threat due to their development, testing and deployment of counterspace capabilities," it said, claiming that Moscow and Beijing are developing tools for jamming and cyberattacks that directly threaten US satellites.

Moscow, Russia | AFP

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